One examination morning, some group of students were seen in a ‘tug of war’ affair as the lecturer insisted they would not enter the hall because they failed to make the mandatory 75 percent class attendance rule.
One of the students who spoke with BusinessDay said she did not make the mandatory 75 percent attendance required at the institution because she had a baby, which according to her was functional to the persistent and long lecturers’ strike then.
The lecturer insisted that the student and her colleagues had no excuse whatsoever to stay away from the classroom bearing in mind that they applied for the course and were given the needed orientation on what it takes to be a graduate from the university.
Study has shown that many students are staying away from classes, despite their quest for the certificates. Empty classroom menace is seen fueling the learning crisis in many tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Rebecca, not her real name, was serving a media firm during her compulsory one year NYSC, and on this fateful day, the editor of the media asked her to write a news story.
For some hours, the corper, as they are fondly called remained speechless, doing nothing, when asked what are you writing on? She quickly said; I don’t know what to write.
Then, another question was thrown at her, as HND holder in Mass Communication, does it mean you didn’t practice news writing in school? And she responded, “We would ordinarily contribute money and give to the lecturers, we’re not attending lectures.”
BusinessDay finding shows that student absenteeism is not limited to polytechnics, and colleges of education; the vicious cancer has spread across all universities in the country.
Shola Ajao, a civil servant, shared her experience while on campus at one of the public polytechnics.
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“One of the reasons many students stay away from classrooms is lack of prioritisation. Most of the students cohabit with the opposite sex, and this in a way tends to affect their commitment to their studies.
“When a girl is living with a young spouse on campus, what exactly do you expect, of course, they will sleep and wake at will, sometimes, pregnancy is involved,” she said.
Ajao told a story how she visited a friend at Ilaro Poly, while they were at the students’ affairs unit, they noticed that a female student who was cohabiting with a male student was drag to the police station because she fought the landlord of the house on behalf of her campus husband.
“How will such a person be in the classroom when she was tossed up and down with unnecessary love affairs,” she asked.
Similarly, Azubuike Offor, an accountant, blamed the unholy attitude to wrong association such as cultism and gangsters which he said has a way of distracting students while on campus.
Lecture avoidance is gradually becoming a way of life in many Nigerian higher institutions; as many students now prefer to skip classes at the slightest excuse.
However, this is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, as research shows that student absenteeism is a global phenomenon, varying only in degree.
Unfortunately, most of the time the lecturers are blamed for poor learning outcomes, especially in Nigeria, neglecting other metrics that bear on quality learning goals.
Lecturers are often accused of being apathetic, uninspiring, or insufficiently skilled to attract students to lectures and retain them. Their commitment and passion are questioned, and they are also censured for prioritising their convenience over the needs of students.
Lecturers on the other hand, blame students for lack of seriousness.
Gloria Akin, a teacher, speaking of her experience while at the University of Lagos, said, “Many students are merely interested in obtaining degrees than in gaining knowledge, learning skills, and cultivating the right attitude. You know in Nigeria, we value certificates than knowledge.”
Debbie Osueke, a teacher emphasised that to make classroom and learning attractive, education policy makers should put in place culturally relevant content, and leverage tech, and ensure there is an engaging teaching method in place.
Besides, she advocates for a conducive learning environment, and functional infrastructure in place.
