After more than two months of the commencement of the indefinite strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, which began on 14th March, 2022, there is a need to re-evaluate some of the unfortunate effects of the actions on Nigerian students.
Students in different institutions of higher learning in Nigeria are constantly faced with industrial actions either from the academic or the non-academic staff unions. Most of these strike actions are caused by disagreement between the government and the unions mostly arising from non-implementation or partial implementation of former agreements reached.
The disagreement or lack of understanding between government and the academic community often result in deadlock that usually disrupts the academic calendar. The students always bear the brunt of these deadlocks.
Incessant strikes actions dwindle the academic performances of students. As learning is suspended for a long period, the students’ reading abilities fall. Even the knowledge acquired during the learning period is even forgotten by some students. This mostly turns some students to mere certificate seekers than knowledge seekers.
Also, most protracted strikes distort the school calendar. The after-effect is prolonged school year that exceeds stipulated periods. Most academic activities for the school year are distorted. This is one major causes of producing unqualified graduates who are deficient in their fields of study. In the same vein, students who are supposed to do a four year course end up spending six years in the school for a simple programme.
Such strike periods also have the tendency of leading undergraduates into some social vices like prostitution and even economic and financial fraud.
There is therefore the need for a re-evaluation of the education sector. Factors that often lead to strike in our institutions should be addressed. There is no doubt that the infrastructure in most of our schools are in deplorable situation which is unacceptable. A conducive learning atmosphere is a sine-qua-non for quality education. In addition, education should be properly and adequately funded to encourage effective research. Proper funding and provision of equipment for Nigerian universities will go a long way to stop further strike actions.
Meanwhile, government should always try to honour whatever agreement reached with the academic community. Most protracted strikes can be averted if necessary steps are taken to build a good relationship between both parties. It is worth emphasizing that any society with a poor education system is heading towards a black future. At the same time, the various unions in our institutions of higher learning should device other means other than strikes to resolve industrial disputes. Strike actions should be the last resort. This is because of the negative effects that frequent strikes have on students and the entire academic community.
Written by COMR. UGOCHUKWU NWAFOR
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