by crossriverwatch admin
An education activist, Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko has described the ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, as inimical to the upbringing of Nigerian student s and has called on the Ministry of Education and the Nigerian University Commission, NUC, to resort to an alternative system of education to preempt similar future occurrence.
The system of education proposed include the creation of a ‘Tertiary Education Curriculum’ and the establishment of a ‘Tertiary Education Graduation Examination Board,’ which will position tertiary institutions as institutions of learning only.
Dr. Oko, who is also the coordinator and founder of Global Educators for all Initiative, GEI, a non- governmental organization based in Abuja, made this call in a statement titled ‘As ASUU Declares Death of Tertiary Education, Let us Resurrect and Ensure its Ascension Now’ published on his Facebook timeline recently.
While condemning the ongoing industrial action by ASUU he described it as obituary announcement of the Nigerian education system and transfer of aggression by ASUU on innocent students, whom he said are directly affected by the strike.
In Dr. Oko’s words “the reoccurring strikes in our nation’s tertiary educational institution is a big problem that will threaten the future of our nation.
“Our students of today will not be well prepared for the challenges of tomorrow and we are likely to remain behind again and again.
“The present indefinite strike announced by ASUU is like an obituary announcement for the death of education, and as a friend has wished education the usual prayers of Rest in Peace (sic).
“I think that we need to explore options of resurrecting our university education, especially teaching and learning beyond the sole control and influence of ASUU and even the Federal Government.
“We need to look into the issue of the freedom of our university education, beginning with the creation of the Tertiary Education Curriculum and the establishment of a Tertiary Education Graduation Examination Board.
“This will provide room for all universities to become institutions that prepare students for the graduation examination and therefore preparatory centers.
“In this way, others are allowed to invest in providing access to the university education by creating preparatory centers around the country beyond the control of ASUU.
“Each university will begin to search for students and not students searching for universities as it is now.
“Universities that cannot offer quality services and programs to meet the expectations of students will decline and
performing universities and lecturers will attract thousands of students.
“As long as ASUU remains the sole proprietors of students learning, there may be no completion and they will not feel the pains of one day strike and the attendant effect on the students and nation.
“Also, this will free the government from its wine role in tertiary education delivery in Nigeria.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, had last Tuesday embarked on an indefinite strike following the breach of an agreement reached with the Federal Government which the body claims if implemented would uplift the standard of university education in the country.
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