By Akinmoyeje Timileyin Precious
Like every typical Nigerian student would do, Bisi stood up in defense of her dream University. “No! The University of Ibadan is still the best institution in the country whether you like it or not”. She shouted. Lola had been particularly good at berating her on her choice of institution and she was not going to let her have her way this time.
“The University has survived this far on past achievements”. Lola argued.
After some minutes of a seemingly unending tit-for- tat conversation, a very critical point was raised.
“Bisi” Lola called.
“Yes what is that,” she retorted.
“Why have you not resumed despite having gained admission for almost 5 months now?”
The question seems to have gotten Bisi by surprise as she stopped to think. After all, she has not even started her journey as a student of the great UI. Clear images of how overjoyed she was when she was notified for admission filled her head. Almost simultaneously and quite ironically, the consternation that followed after seeing all her friends from other institutions joyfully leaving the street for resumption haunted her. After a futile search for a convincing response to her friend’s point. She stormed out of the room with a very gloomy expression.
The initially benign issue of tardy resumption has over the months grown into a very deleterious monster which, by now, must have sparked up worry in students, potential students and concerned stakeholders. Like Bisi in the story above, almost every student of the institution has at one point or the other been taunted about the apparent inconsistencies in the school calendar.
Just like the popular African saying, it is important to discover the insect at the bottom of a leaf to rid it of its patches. Why is this? Where did it go wrong? What do we do? It is very simple to run to the only Messiah (the school management) we have for a solution out of absence of other options. What exactly should they do?
ROOT CAUSE, CURRENT STATE
It is a rather opprobrious but factual assertion that the already built academic calendar of the school is being annually destroyed by the juggernaut of strike actions. The University of Ibadan has been known for her active participation in the Academic Staff Union of Universities. The smooth ship of our Academic calendar has been nearly sunk by the ravaging effect of strike actions coupled with disturbing internal brouhahas- of which the 2017 25-day shutdown is an example. Also, at various instances, the university has postponed her resumption date by weeks in times past for reasons best known to the stakeholders in the administration at those times.
Currently, due to the coronavirus pandemic, all academic activities have been stopped and the institution has already been shut down for the safety of its students. To make matters worse, even amidst the uproar caused by the pandemic, the monster, ASUU strike, has again reared its ugly head to disrupt the academic calendar. The declaration of an indefinite strike by the Union on 23rd of March 2020 is an evidence to this effect. One may however begin to wonder, should all these not at least put us in a leveled ground with federal universities in the country? After all, other institutions have their own troubles? What then is the issue? Maybe the Academic calendar itself?
THE TYPICAL ACADEMIC CALENDAR
With careful observation of the Academic calendar over a period of years, it has been seen to have a regular pattern. The typical UI calendar has on an average, 1 week for orientation of freshers, 13 weeks of Academic activities, 1 week for finalization of continuous assessment, 1-2 weeks of mid-session break, 5 weeks of examination in total, 1 week for faculty board to meet on non-final year results (after which the Senate considers it after the lapse of some days), 2 weeks for the faculty board to meet on final and non-final year results, 2-3 weeks for end of session.
A COLLECTIVE SACRIFICE
To make up for the loss of time due to circumstantial hullabaloos, it is imperative that all stakeholders-students, management, parents- contribute their quota to this cause. As for the management, in their humane role standing as in loco-parentis for the students, some of the administrative gaps left in the calendar can be filled up to accommodate for other activities.
For instance, before the Senate sit on the results, after the faculty boards meet an average of 5-7 days lapse have been observed. The space between those days can be made to accommodate other activities that will hasten the running of the calendar. This by implication, reduces the number of days students have as free time apart from the normal after session break.
Or in another sense, if the aforementioned spaces can’t be filled up, it would be wise to cut the number of weeks apportioned to after session breaks, after all students have all the time after their examinations.
In summary, it is necessary to cut the extravagant apportioning of days to any activity on the Academic calendar inasmuch as it would not negatively affect the students. These weeks may look inconsequential when compared to the number of months the school is behind schedule. However, renovation is a gradual process. Little drops can really make up mighty oceans.
CONCLUSION
Important problems require urgent and serious attention. The Yoruba have a saying that: “it is better to prune an Iroko tree while it is still tender, if not, when it grows it would demand sacrifices.” The consequences of continuous delay in Academic calendar has begun to play out as students have had extended stay on campus. The country and the management had failed to nip it in the bud. However, the destructive fruit can still be removed and its seeds exterminated by the collective efforts of all of us. Would it not be disastrous if the students produced do not excel in the labor market due to age restrictions? According to the institution’s motto, let us think straight and make good decisions. The gown is meant to find solutions to the problem of the country. If the gown cannot solve its own problems, how is it supposed to solve that of others?
