The management of the University of Calabar has hinted of plans to invite erring lecturers to face the varsity’s Disciplinary Committee over alleged sex for grades/sexual harassment, acts of sorting, extortion.
This was contained in an internal memo signed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Michael Okom and circulated around the University community at the weekend.
The memo with the subject matter, ‘Obnoxious and Abhorrable Acts of Sorting, Extortion and Sexual Harassment,’ which reads in parts stated thus: “Some departments and lecturers have been specifically fingered and investigations have commenced.
“Management also has information to the effect that lecturers have resorted to giving students scripts to write exams at homes, hotels and relaxation places.
“All those involved in these despicable activities are hereby warned to desist and repent. In fact, they will soon be invited to interact with the Disciplinary Committee,” it stressed.
Meanwhile a university don, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, has advocated for a pedagogic approach to learning in Nigeria’s higher institutions.
Enoh, the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Cross River State, stated this during the 7th Post Graduate School lecture of the University of Calabar.
Speaking on the topic: ‘Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Research: Misconceptions, Missing Links and Miscarriages’, he noted that research activities should emerge from the womb of ongoing teaching.
“There must be found the productive and creative union of town and gown in teaching by focusing on the active and current. The adoption of a pedagogic approach which involves active learner participation and the emergence of research activities from the womb of ongoing teaching.
All these are achievable only through continuous teachers’ training and the exercise of true academic freedom to both teachers and learners in teaching, learning and Research,” he said.
He condemned the rigid and externally imposed curriculum made worse by an Ivory tower mentality and also opposed the formal method of instruction aggravated by the banking learning ideology which is reinforced by a preparationist and dependency frame of mind.
He equally faulted the demand for correspondence in research and research for its own sake, unconnected to what is taught or current in society.
According to Prof. Owan-Enoh, “those who are schooled in the computer villages and the schools are learning better, getting real employment and making money and our products cannot compete.”
He stressed that it was only through good teaching that university curricula can be brought down from the ivory tower status and reconnected with the soil from which it sprang. He added that it was through good teaching that the present could be made the focus of learning and avoid the unproductive goal of preparation for an uncertain tomorrow.
Prof. Enoh equally suggested that the university system provide effective means for continuous training in pedagogical skills for all university teachers in the same manner that conference attendance and research activities have been funded through the establishment of a National Academic Staff College of Nigeria (NASCON).
Also Speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Florence Obi said she approved the lecture series because it is good for the system.

By: Friday Nwagbara, Calabar