The Numerous Challenges Associated with Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration in Nigeria. [Essay].

-


Franklin Chukwuemeka Izundu

Email: izufranklinmary@gmail.com 

       izundufranklin2@gmail.com 



A few days ago, I had a lengthy conversation with two of my colleagues in which we discussed the difficulties facing Higher Education and student affairs administration. In actuality, there are a few issues that constitute a threat to higher education and student affairs administration, as any one familiar with the operations of the majority of Nigeria's higher education institutions would undoubtedly agree. Sometimes, the ugly condition of things in some Nigerian higher institutions of learning, tends to validate the Nigerian street slang, ‘’school na scam’’ which literally implies that ‘’school is of no essence’ 

Is schooling truly a scam? If we were being honest with ourselves, we would all admit that education is not only beneficial but also crucial. People who are educated are better able to protect their own futures, and education also fosters independence and increases inventiveness. The list of benefits of education is extensive and includes increased possibilities, improved national economies, and a higher propensity for critical thought.

The process of managing higher education institutions, such as universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, etc., is known as higher education administration. While student affairs administration includes organising and supervising student activities, providing guidance and counseling to students in order to help them make the best choices. It is imperative to acknowledge that the significance of student affairs practitioners within an institution cannot be overstated; put another way, they are absolutely indispensable. When a higher education institution is managed well and its student affairs department fulfills its mandate, it is frequently visible in the lives of the students; personal and interpersonal development is documented, students discover their talents and broaden their academic prowess, and there will also be a boom in creativity. 

Poor higher education and student affairs administration goes a long way to water-down the weight of the positive influence education tends to exact on students.

Below are some factors that militate against higher education and student affairs administration in some Nigerian institutions. 

Lack of Sufficient Funding: The student affairs departments of all higher education institutions constantly require funding in order to operate efficiently and perform their obligations. This is because enough funding is necessary for the good management of any higher education institution. They get disabled and are unable to perform as planned when they do not receive adequate funding

Poor Remunerations: Staff members that are underpaid become less passionate about their work and adopt a more casual attitude toward it, which has an immediate negative impact on the students. Higher education institutions would be well to pay their staff what is owed to them in order to prevent this threat.   

Insecurity: In an insecure atmosphere of learning, ordinarily, much success is not recorded. Worthy to note is the fact that the major cause of insecurity in Nigerian tertiary institution is cultism. Mbah et al (2018) while writing on the influence of cultism on school activities asserted thus… ‘’as a result of cult activities, students’ punctuality and regularity to school activities are compromised like: lateness to lectures, nonchalant attitude to school activities among others’’ Sequel to that, the safety of the students which is one of the major concerns of the student affairs division, is not guaranteed. On so many occasions, female students have been harassed and even raped by these cultists. Students have also lost their lives during clashes among various cult groups.  

Lack of Essential Facilities: The welfare of students, and ensuring they have the greatest possible college experience, is the Office of Student Affairs' top priority. To this end, they assume personal responsibility for making sure the necessary facilities are easily accessible.  These facilities help the students to have a better residential, academic and personal development experience free of unnecessary challenges. Among these facilities includes the guidance and counselling unit, which is present to assist students scale through depression and maintain a good mental health, the sports facilities and medical facilities. There are facilities that also help to boost students’ academic performances. Ariyo (2008) rightly averred…’’some facilities help to stimulate teaching and learning; they are used to illustrate concepts, provide opportunity for the hand experience, provide diversity of thought, helpful in all round development of the personality of the students, for scientific investigation and discovery, for experimentation and demonstration etc’’. 

The aforementioned variables should be adequately taken care of in order to guarantee that students have a positive experience during their time in higher education. The student affairs office needs adequate funding in every school in order for them to effectively perform their job. Additionally, higher education staff members should get fair compensation for their important role in helping students navigate and live comfortably on campus. they also make college experience memorable, so they should be well compensated. Furthermore, the issue of insecurity should also be addressed, other administrative divisions should also support the student affairs division on this, because the issue of insecurity affects everyone, when an institution is insecure, the lives of both staffs and students are at stake. To sum up, I kindly ask the Nigerian government to fulfill its share by adequately funding postsecondary education, especially public universities.



References

Ariyo, M.D. 2003. A Retrospective study of school safety conditions in high school using the Virginia threat assessment guidelines versus alternative approaches. School Quarterly. 24, 119-129.NB

 Mbah B.A, S.O. Egwu 2018. N.O. Emesini. 2018 Influence of cultism on the school activities of students in Nigerian universities: A focus on Ebonyi state university, Abakiliki, Nigeria. Middle East Journal of Scientific Research 26(8): 753-761

Popular posts from this blog

A Step By Step Guide On How To Achieve Your Dream Of Studying In The United States.

-
Image
By: Cyril Chibuzor Ikeh INTRODUCTION Many Nigerian students earnestly seek to further their studies but are being hindered by the inability to afford the finance involved. It is important to note that there are many scholarship opportunities in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and other first world countries. With the right knowledge, bright and serous-minded Nigerian students can benefit from these scholarships. The essence of this article is to give a detailed direction on how to secure admission and most importantly, scholarships in the United States of America. NECESSARY STEPS TO TAKE 1. Search for schools that suit your profile : The very first thing to do is to search for schools that suit your profile perfectly.  It is imperative to pay attention to the programs they offer, requirements for admission and funding opportunities. Worthy to note is the fact that there is a school out there that suits you perfectly, so don't give up nor get tired of searching. To ma...
Read more

Conscience, Freedom, Choice and Decision Making in Relation to Morality

-
Image
By Agbom Kenneth Introduction Human experience gives strong evidence for their existence. This experience is greatly influenced by what one believes in. The question is whether the moral agent will earnestly ask himself/herself whether his/her experience of the Ultimate influences his actions. Holistically, how does this experience in our daily action relate to our conscience, freedom, choice and decision making? How does it affect us in our daily lives? What must we do to live out the intention of our creator according to the dictates of our moral codes irrespective of our worldview?  It is in the light of these pertinent questions that this study intends to examine conscience, freedom, choice and decision making in relation to morality. To this end, this study is divided into three parts. The first part dwells on conceptual clarifications. The second part dwells on conscience, freedom, choice, and decision making in relation to morality (Christian morality), then, followed by a ...
Read more

A REVIEW OF BECAUSE I AM INVOLVED

-
Image
  ‌ TITLE: BECAUSE I AM INVOLVED AUTHOR: CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU PAGES: 208 PUBLISHER: SPECTRUM BOOKS LTD YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 1989 REVIEWED BY: FRANKLIN CHUKWUEMEKA I ZUNDU. Because I am involved was written by Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, some well-known Nigerian military personnel and a politician who played a very significant role in the Nigeria civil war, he was the president of Biafra from 1967 to 1970. Ojukwu was born on the 4th of November, 1933, in Zungeru, in the northern part of the country. In his book which is made up of 17 subheadings, Ojukwu was more of a critic of the Nigerian situation, he wrote on many issues in Nigeria, issues that have been ignored for years, issues no one dares to explore, he opined that Nigeria is crippled by four fears, these fears he conceptualised as fear of change, fear of truth, fear of unity and fear of man. According to him Nigeria lack the will to transform our primordial instincts and create a modern polity, we are so in...
Read more