By Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
One would expect that the end of the industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) would come as a huge relief to students and have them immediately scampering back to campuses.
This is especially true, given that they had been home for more than eight months and that the strike cost them a full academic year.
In contrast, it appears that students are still delaying returning to class as seen by a tour of the University of Abuja campuses.
Although it’s true that students usually like to allot to themselves extra one week or two before returning to school after a break, one would assume that following the agonizingly lengthy wait caused by the government’s and ASUU’s face off, things would be different this time.
Surprisingly, activities have not yet fully resumed more than two weeks after the protracted strike ended, and many students are yet to return back to class.
While lecturers claim to have resumed and are fully ready to teach, a lot of students have different reasons for delaying resumption.
The university was still fairly sparse when The Education Report visited its two campuses in Gwagwalada and Giri last week. Although several students who had just returned were seen being dropped off by buses and taxis with their luggage.
It also learnt that exams are expected to commence next month in many of the universities that just resumed from the strike, including UNIABUJA.
This begs the question of how prepared the students who would be taking the examinations are, considering that many of them are yet to resume and lectures yet to start fully, weeks after resumption.
A final year student of Political Science and International Relations, who spoke anonymously, said she had only sat for one class in two week and the second class she was supposed to have been canceled due to undisclosed reasons. She confirmed that the many of her classmates were yet to resume for reasons best known to them.
Chidinma Amadi, a 200 level student of the university, insists that students must not be blamed for not resuming immediately the strike was called off. According to her, hardship coupled with the short notice given for resumption, are what have delayed many students as they need to put themselves together financially before coming back to school.
“It not like students are not happy that the strike was called off or do not want to resume. But you need to understand that times are hard and the period between when the strike was called off and the date to resume school was very shot. Strike was called-off I think on Saturday and we were asked to resume school the next Monday. How is that even possible? You have to gather funds first. Not everyone has rich parents that can easily give them the money that they need to resume school.”
While partially attributing the poor population to a lack of funding, Aisha Muhammed, a student in 200 level, also pointed out that many students might not return right away or at all because of various circumstances beyond their control.
“I know at least three of my classmates that have decided to defer their admissions due to hardship. I know some ladies who also said they may not resume because they got married during the strike and are heavily pregnant.
There are some who just had babies. There are some of have just lost interest in the whole school thing probably because they have discovered a new skill that lasts them well and there also those who have also left the country. So a lot student may not return this session for various reasons,” she stated.
In his opinion, a parent, Mr. Francis Abraham said: “You can’t blame the parents or students for not immediately returning to school as stipulated by ASUU. Everyone knows these are trying times for the masses and we are all feeling the heat of the country. There are some things a parent or Guidian must put in place before they return to school so they don’t go there go and become stranded. For instance, the house rent of a lot of students has expired and they need to go back with money to renew their accommodation as their landlords are already on their necks. There is food, transport fare, especially for those coming from long distances. There is also allowance and all that for the student. Some parents have more than one child returning to school. So it’s a lot of responsibility.”
The Education Report also observed that several campus shops have started operating and are prepared for the usual large influx of customers.
“We are back to business, said one of the vendors at the school, who only gave his name as Pastor. “ All staff, including teaching and non-teaching, are on ground because exams start next month.” he stated.