BY DAYO ADESULU

The falling education standard in Nigeria has again been brought to the fore by concerned stakeholders in the sector who knew what it used to be in the 70s and early 80s.

Government, examination bodies and students often trade blames on the real cause of the decay in the sector and none has been able to identify the problem or to proffer solution to it.

Last Sunday in Abuja, the boss, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie said: “Poor quality of graduates of part-time programmes in universities is partly responsible for the decay in Nigeria’s education sector.”

He added, “The part-time programme is giving us a bad name; we have students who go through the back-door to earn certificates of universities that have reputation.”

Reacting to the claim, the Vice-Chancellor, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Professor Isaac Adeyemi  said that there is nothing wrong with part-time programmes in universities, saying that the system is synonymous with distance learning programmes in overseas countries where they offer online degrees to PhD level.

“Part-time programmes are not uncommon all over the world, it is the same with distance learning that is ICT- driven,” he added.

According to the VC, the problem is not with part-time study, but the modus operandi and motive behind the operation that matters.

He pointed out that in overseas countries where they run such programmes, they have a standard which they strictly adhere to.

The standard includes: minimum academic qualification, standard Information Communication Technology (ICT) where students could have access to lecturers and academic materials online without  interruption of electricity supply.

“In Nigeria, the  case is different. There is no constant electricity supply, how can students and lecturers log on to access materials online?” he asked.

Professor Adeyemi reiterated: “There is nothing wrong in part-time programmes if the quality and standard in terms of admission, quality of lecturers and examination conduct is put in place.” He maintained that examination must be properly moderated and conducted to get the desired standard.