“I think it’s much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degree of uncertainty about different things, but I am not absolutely sure of anything and there are many things I don’t know anything about, such as whether it means anything to ask why we’re here. I don’t have to know an answer. I don’t feel frightened not knowing things by being lost in a mysterious universe without any purpose, which is the way it really is as far as I can tell”-Richard. P. Feynman.
If we are to go with any reason the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) established the General Studies Program in the higher institutions of the country, we will discover that we are far behind the envisioned goal. The main purpose of establishing the program across our higher institutions of learning in the country is to help Nigerian students a whole being; that is, so that they will be able to have a little knowledge about every field of human endeavor.
However, it is saddening that the goal of establishing the program is fast taking a derailing lane. This set back cannot be ascribed to anybody in particular because every organ that is supposed to contribute to the success of the program has a share of blame.
To many, GES is now like one of the major departmental courses one has to take. It is a pity that the tutors and lecturers who are taking the courses do not loather themselves in introducing the purpose of the course to the students, and due to this, they in turn deviate from the set goals. The only introduction from the tutors is to remind the student that it is a compulsory course and if they are not careful, they will be taking it the following session. It is not a gainsaying that many of the lecturers taking some of the GES courses teach as if they are teaching their normal courses.
In the same vein, the school management is now running the program to fulfill all righteousness. Apart from monitoring how the theoretical GES textbooks are being written and published, the management seems to be less concerned about the condition the courses are being taught. Imagine students of a whole faculty receiving lecture in a lecture-theatre without adequate ventilation. Not only that, the students had to force themselves to see due to the constant power cut being witnessed in the institution! Can there be any other excruciating learning condition as this?
The lackadaisical and carefree attitude of the students is also worrisome. Students have now tagged the program as ‘mere GES courses’ and thus take the courses with levity. Apart from snubbing or coming late to the class, students tend to give it less attention and just like the management, take the courses to fulfill all righteousness.
If there is any course that should not be given a vague meaning then it should be GES. It should be realistic as much as possible and should always give the students a sense of direction. GES is synonymous to societal knowledge but it is a pity that students after their graduation still remain the same, even worse than what was acquired before the introduction of the program. It is now common to meet first degree holder who cannot express themselves in good and simple English; this is a mockery of GES 101 and 201 respectively. Even the newly introduced GES 301 which discusses entrepreneurship skills will also take the same trend as the other GES courses. This is because students are not made to see the realities of these courses and are always taught in complexities.
In conclusion, if the real purpose of achieving the General Studies Program will be fulfilled, all hands must be on deck to do the right thing expected from each organ. The students should be taught to meet the realities of their society and not what the lecturers think they should be. Also, students should have the right mindset towards the program and see it as an efficient tool in combating the various problems they encounter in life. Every organ involved in the execution of the program should see beyond fulfilling all righteousness to making the needed impact.
