LETTERS to the Editor

Let’s privatise university education

Getting into the university is the dream of every young adult and the parents. In the past, most parents only prayed their children would not drop out of high school or college, so they could be counted as literate. With that, they could get a good job. But things have changed since; you can ‘never’ get a good job without a university education and obtaining a degree. Some students have failed to realize this. They are so caught up in the excitement of being away from home, the parties, opposite sex, cars and other distractions, that they forget the main reason of being in school. What would it really take to balance out your studies and social life and, in the process, still remain one of the ‘cool guys’ on campus?

Many students have stayed over six years or more in a 4-year course (besides the effects of strikes and other issues), simply because of lack of this balancing act.

For some, it is party every day and night, simply because the parents send them to school to begin to learn to be on their own, to study, at home or abroad, where no one is actually bothered about anyone’s whereabouts. They carry over course after course when the shame of seeing their mates graduate is supposed to drag them by the ear and make them smell the coffee. Beside the shame, it is a total waste of money that could have been used to start their own business, pay for a master’s degree or do whatever it is that could have been of benefit to them.

This is one of the principal reasons why many parents who can afford it have opted for overseas universities or private universities, where students have no excuse to miss their classes, where there are no strikes, and where, after one carry over, you don’t get a second chance.

Although the private universities have their own disadvantages, many parents rush for them, not minding the exorbitant fees they charge, just for their children to get an education. Because of this, more and more private universities are popping up in Nigeria. The big question here is: is this the best option? Certainly, every parent wants to see their children graduate early and go into the labour market with better prospects. Employers look for young and bright graduates, than when they are almost hitting 30 and the level of their confidence is almost zero due to lack of experience at that age.

Private or public, the main thing is for young people to get their act together and be forward looking, or be left behind in a country where survival of the fittest has become the order of the day.

Chima Nnanna, Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano <chimnestor@gmail.com>