I appreciate your taking time to reflect on the massive disgrace that passes for the Nigerian educational system today. You have said it and you have said it well and you are to be applauded for that. However, with all due respect there is nothing new here that has not been said before. We are a nation blessed, some would say cursed with (too) many talking heads. g;We are fast becoming a nation of MBAs, Master Bull Artists, willing to talk our way glibly to fat bank accounts. We know what to do, we have brilliant ideas, we just do not want to do anything about it. Education is just one aspect of our life as a nation that has been neglected, you know the rest. Nigerians love to talk nonstop until the problem solves itself. Then we claim credit for the victory. That is how we killed Abacha. The bombings will stop insha Allah. Because we are talking nonstop about them. Mark my words ;-)
We know now that pretty words are a poor substitute for the real work of nation-building. There is hope in the education sector, however slim. As nations like Britain and the US take urgent steps to protect themselves from the broken products of Nigeria's pretend-universities, we may be forced reluctantly to attend to the work of making them competitive. In my darkest days I pray that the West imposes a no-fly zone over Nigeria so that children of professors, the political and intellectual elite would be forced to live in the mess there. Only then will there be progress. In the meantime the children of the dispossessed continue to be traumatized in 'classrooms" by ASUU thugs.
We also pray for technology to rescue us from the murk just as cellphones and the Internet saved us from the incompetence and greed of our leaders. I don't mean to sound disrespectful of your thoughts; it is just that Nigerian intellectuals are part of the problem here, a big part. And many of them are here spouting off while I hold their children here for them in the United States for safekeeping against their toxic classrooms. Tennessee Williams once said, "If the writing is honest it cannot be separated from the man who wrote it." And vice versa. I salute you sha.
- Ikhide
From: "alemikae@yahoo.com" <alemikae@yahoo.com>
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 8:56 AM
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - UK RELEGATED SOME NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES MEDICAL PROGRAMS.
Dear Prof Aborishade
Your recommendations are apt.
The action of UK was based on an earlier decision by the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council withdrawing accreditation of the universities and recognition of their graduates. The implication is that even in Nigeria graduates from medical programmes in the universities since 2010 are not recognized and will not be able to practice medicine in the country until required deficiencies are rectified. Most of the universities suffered the fate due to the indiscipline of the university authorities. They admitted students far higher than the quota alloted to them based on capacity -- infrastructure, staffing in preclinical and clinical phases of training.
In most federal universities, the vice-chancellors control admissions and recklessly exceed capacity without sanction from JAMB and NUC. Excessive admission is eroding the quality of professional courses, especially medicine and law, that parents and students consider as "prestigious and rewarding" in an increasingly materialistic and individualistic amoral Nigerian society.
Nigeria's education system can be rescued if we take urgent measures in the following areas:
1. revitalize public primary and secondary education systems
2. Make teaching in public primary and secondary schools attractive
3. Upgrade and maintain quality and relevance of curriculla at all levels of education
4. Promote industrialization and modernized agricultural production to provide jobs for secondary school graduates so as to reduce the pressure on universities to admit high number of persons who are ill-prepared for university education and far beyond their capacity and resources
5. Introduce 1-2 years post-secondary techical and vocational education training institutes to develop practical skills of young persons to enhance their prospect for employment and entrepreneurship
At the university level:
1. Excessive admissions should be discontinued. No lecturer should teach a class with more than 80 students. Larger enrolments should be divided into sections. In many federal universities, lecturers in arts and social sciences teach classes with more than a thousand students in a lecture room designed for less than 200 students, without projectors and audio amplifying facilities. This is a major source of frustration and indiscipline among students and lecturers. In the circumstance, it is difficult to enforce accountability.
2. Adopt delibertate policy of consolidation instead of expansion. Nigerian universities are grossly understaffed and a substantial proportion of the lecturers are not adequately gifted, trained, disciplined, motivated and competent for their roles. Universities should halt expansion in terms of introduction of new courses, rationalize existing courses, and develop requisite capacity to reverse the decline.
3. Localization and indigenization of the position of vice-chancellors in federal universities should be discotinued so that competent persons may lead the university system
4. Libraries require urgent upgrading in terms of volume, range and timeliness of acquisition. Electronic journal acquisition and internet access on campus should be given priority
5. More transparent merit based promotion system that takes into account quality of teaching, quality of teaching materials, research, publication in reputable international and national journals, participation in national and international professional associations, contribution to national and community development through research, advocacy and activism should be adopted and appropriately implemented
4. Attendance and presentations at international conferences should be promoted and supported
5. University authorities and ASUU should strengthen their disciplinary mechanisms to deal with unethical and unprofessional practices in the system. The effort by ASUU to eliminate sale of handout to regular undergraduate students has been largely successful and should be sustained. Parents need to be enlightened to realize that sale of handout has been drastically reduced. However due to the poor state of the libraries, many lecturers who invest in acquisition of new books and journals for their personal use allow interested students to photocopy portions that are relevant to their courses. Such lecturers are not involved in any financial transactions with the students
6. Quality of graduate training needs to be improved through constantly reviewed curricula, competent delivery, rigorous assessment and supervision, mentoring, improved library facilities and acquisition
7. Tutorial system should be re-introduced, it gradually disappeared in the 1980s due to large classes and shortage of lecturers. Teaching assistant system should be introduced for this purpose and also for the improvement of graduate training
8. Regular department and faculty seminars should be required and supported by university authorities
9. Acceptance of self-published books, articles in journals without credible peer-review process and wide access for promotion at senior academic position levels should be discouraged
Nigerian educational system has steadily declined since early 1980s. Serious attention should be given to the revitalization of public primary and secondary education systems in Nigeria
in order to reverse the education crisis that constitutes the most serious threat to the security, sovereignty, competitiveness, development and survival of Nigeria, now and in the future
Etannibi Alemika
-- Your recommendations are apt.
The action of UK was based on an earlier decision by the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council withdrawing accreditation of the universities and recognition of their graduates. The implication is that even in Nigeria graduates from medical programmes in the universities since 2010 are not recognized and will not be able to practice medicine in the country until required deficiencies are rectified. Most of the universities suffered the fate due to the indiscipline of the university authorities. They admitted students far higher than the quota alloted to them based on capacity -- infrastructure, staffing in preclinical and clinical phases of training.
In most federal universities, the vice-chancellors control admissions and recklessly exceed capacity without sanction from JAMB and NUC. Excessive admission is eroding the quality of professional courses, especially medicine and law, that parents and students consider as "prestigious and rewarding" in an increasingly materialistic and individualistic amoral Nigerian society.
Nigeria's education system can be rescued if we take urgent measures in the following areas:
1. revitalize public primary and secondary education systems
2. Make teaching in public primary and secondary schools attractive
3. Upgrade and maintain quality and relevance of curriculla at all levels of education
4. Promote industrialization and modernized agricultural production to provide jobs for secondary school graduates so as to reduce the pressure on universities to admit high number of persons who are ill-prepared for university education and far beyond their capacity and resources
5. Introduce 1-2 years post-secondary techical and vocational education training institutes to develop practical skills of young persons to enhance their prospect for employment and entrepreneurship
At the university level:
1. Excessive admissions should be discontinued. No lecturer should teach a class with more than 80 students. Larger enrolments should be divided into sections. In many federal universities, lecturers in arts and social sciences teach classes with more than a thousand students in a lecture room designed for less than 200 students, without projectors and audio amplifying facilities. This is a major source of frustration and indiscipline among students and lecturers. In the circumstance, it is difficult to enforce accountability.
2. Adopt delibertate policy of consolidation instead of expansion. Nigerian universities are grossly understaffed and a substantial proportion of the lecturers are not adequately gifted, trained, disciplined, motivated and competent for their roles. Universities should halt expansion in terms of introduction of new courses, rationalize existing courses, and develop requisite capacity to reverse the decline.
3. Localization and indigenization of the position of vice-chancellors in federal universities should be discotinued so that competent persons may lead the university system
4. Libraries require urgent upgrading in terms of volume, range and timeliness of acquisition. Electronic journal acquisition and internet access on campus should be given priority
5. More transparent merit based promotion system that takes into account quality of teaching, quality of teaching materials, research, publication in reputable international and national journals, participation in national and international professional associations, contribution to national and community development through research, advocacy and activism should be adopted and appropriately implemented
4. Attendance and presentations at international conferences should be promoted and supported
5. University authorities and ASUU should strengthen their disciplinary mechanisms to deal with unethical and unprofessional practices in the system. The effort by ASUU to eliminate sale of handout to regular undergraduate students has been largely successful and should be sustained. Parents need to be enlightened to realize that sale of handout has been drastically reduced. However due to the poor state of the libraries, many lecturers who invest in acquisition of new books and journals for their personal use allow interested students to photocopy portions that are relevant to their courses. Such lecturers are not involved in any financial transactions with the students
6. Quality of graduate training needs to be improved through constantly reviewed curricula, competent delivery, rigorous assessment and supervision, mentoring, improved library facilities and acquisition
7. Tutorial system should be re-introduced, it gradually disappeared in the 1980s due to large classes and shortage of lecturers. Teaching assistant system should be introduced for this purpose and also for the improvement of graduate training
8. Regular department and faculty seminars should be required and supported by university authorities
9. Acceptance of self-published books, articles in journals without credible peer-review process and wide access for promotion at senior academic position levels should be discouraged
Nigerian educational system has steadily declined since early 1980s. Serious attention should be given to the revitalization of public primary and secondary education systems in Nigeria
in order to reverse the education crisis that constitutes the most serious threat to the security, sovereignty, competitiveness, development and survival of Nigeria, now and in the future
Etannibi Alemika
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
From: OLADMEJI ABORISADE <olaaborisade@msn.com>
Sender: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:11:01 -0500
To: USAAfricaDialogue<usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
ReplyTo: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - UK RELEGATED SOME NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES MEDICAL PROGRAMS.
oladimeji aborisade: UK RELEGATED SOME NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES MEDICAL PROGRAMS.
The General Medical Council of the United Kungdom relegated some Nigerian Universities Medical Programs with serious result. Trained Medial Doctors from such Universities are prohibited from practicing their professions in the Uniited Kingdom when infact, it is not their fault. It takes time to build reputation and less time to destroy it. Some of these institutions were built strongly but politicians have acted wrongly in many respects. Is the relegation to serve as a lesson? Or as a wake up call to other Universities in Nigeria? Or as a serious threat to the integrity of the approving authotities such as the National Universities Commission, the Federal Ministry of Education, and the Governments-Federal/ State/ Private.
There are at least 117 Universities in Nigeria and all of them aspire to eventually run Medical Programs . The National Universities Commission on behalf of the Federal Government inspect, and approve University Programs based on the Minimum standard which must be strictly followed. The result of inspecting and approving programs not based on the Minimum Standard is chaotic. Infact, the failure of both the NUC and the State Governments of OYO/OSUN to critically assess the rift between the two states resulted in a prolonged number of years for the Medical Students. Now this University is blacklisted. I hope the students will one day gather themselves together and take legal action against the two states for dereliction of duty. But the two unvisionary Governors-Akala/Olagunsoye are no longer in power. The damage is hanging.
My experience in North America and Europe tells me that not all their Univerities have Schools/Colleges of Medicine, Law, Pharmacy and even Nursing. In Nigeria, Univerities run virtually all the estabilished programs on earth except perhaps programs that have not been created. This is wrong from the side of the NUC/ Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Education. Education is not a race of quantity but quality. It is rather unbelievable to approve Medical Program for Private Universities in Nigeria. Private Universities began in 1999. Just 12 years ago. Some of them do not have 50% of their academic Staff as full time. Most of them run all the programs. Effective monitoring and supervision may be seriously in danger.
Under the present condition, I offer the following suggestions:
1. That the NUC should review the Minimum Standard approved for Universities in Nigeria during the era of Essien Udom, 1980s. I served on this commission.
2. Multiple TeachinG assignments by Retired or Serving professors should be discouraged. If anyone is to be effective, one Institution is ADEQUATE TO TEACH. If the NUC adopts this, many programs will die naturally and effeciency will replace ineffectiveness.
3. Private Universities should be discouraged from offering all programs. There is need for maturity/ abnormally. Education is not a money making venture.
4. The NUC/ Federal /State/ Private must realise that the main purpose of Education is to have a civil society. This can be achieved only when a lot of resources are put into Education. The Federal Government must do more in funding Education in Nigeria and discourage the Private/ State Universities from charging fees heavily.
5. If proper care is not taken, Nigeria may loose more on their international educational reputation and the shift may move from Medical to all other programs.
6.Retirement for Academics must be reviiewed to allow a retired teacher to remain in the same University and teach without holding administrative position and blocking the promotion of incoming teachers.
Thank you,
Professor Oladimeji Aborisade.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Phone: 704.398.9907. Email: olaaborisade@msn.com
The General Medical Council of the United Kungdom relegated some Nigerian Universities Medical Programs with serious result. Trained Medial Doctors from such Universities are prohibited from practicing their professions in the Uniited Kingdom when infact, it is not their fault. It takes time to build reputation and less time to destroy it. Some of these institutions were built strongly but politicians have acted wrongly in many respects. Is the relegation to serve as a lesson? Or as a wake up call to other Universities in Nigeria? Or as a serious threat to the integrity of the approving authotities such as the National Universities Commission, the Federal Ministry of Education, and the Governments-Federal/ State/ Private.
There are at least 117 Universities in Nigeria and all of them aspire to eventually run Medical Programs . The National Universities Commission on behalf of the Federal Government inspect, and approve University Programs based on the Minimum standard which must be strictly followed. The result of inspecting and approving programs not based on the Minimum Standard is chaotic. Infact, the failure of both the NUC and the State Governments of OYO/OSUN to critically assess the rift between the two states resulted in a prolonged number of years for the Medical Students. Now this University is blacklisted. I hope the students will one day gather themselves together and take legal action against the two states for dereliction of duty. But the two unvisionary Governors-Akala/Olagunsoye are no longer in power. The damage is hanging.
My experience in North America and Europe tells me that not all their Univerities have Schools/Colleges of Medicine, Law, Pharmacy and even Nursing. In Nigeria, Univerities run virtually all the estabilished programs on earth except perhaps programs that have not been created. This is wrong from the side of the NUC/ Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Education. Education is not a race of quantity but quality. It is rather unbelievable to approve Medical Program for Private Universities in Nigeria. Private Universities began in 1999. Just 12 years ago. Some of them do not have 50% of their academic Staff as full time. Most of them run all the programs. Effective monitoring and supervision may be seriously in danger.
Under the present condition, I offer the following suggestions:
1. That the NUC should review the Minimum Standard approved for Universities in Nigeria during the era of Essien Udom, 1980s. I served on this commission.
2. Multiple TeachinG assignments by Retired or Serving professors should be discouraged. If anyone is to be effective, one Institution is ADEQUATE TO TEACH. If the NUC adopts this, many programs will die naturally and effeciency will replace ineffectiveness.
3. Private Universities should be discouraged from offering all programs. There is need for maturity/ abnormally. Education is not a money making venture.
4. The NUC/ Federal /State/ Private must realise that the main purpose of Education is to have a civil society. This can be achieved only when a lot of resources are put into Education. The Federal Government must do more in funding Education in Nigeria and discourage the Private/ State Universities from charging fees heavily.
5. If proper care is not taken, Nigeria may loose more on their international educational reputation and the shift may move from Medical to all other programs.
6.Retirement for Academics must be reviiewed to allow a retired teacher to remain in the same University and teach without holding administrative position and blocking the promotion of incoming teachers.
Thank you,
Professor Oladimeji Aborisade.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Phone: 704.398.9907. Email: olaaborisade@msn.com
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