Lecturers eager to return to classroom

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) have expressed readiness to return to the classrooms following the suspension of its strike.
Some of the lecturers told CAMPUSLIFE that the striking lecturers said they were concerned about the quality of education being handed over to their students, saying that polytechnics needed to be empowered for global relevance. They explained that, contrary to the view that their demands were only centred on their salary, the welfare of students was paramount.
The lecturers stressed that establishing a regulatory body instead of the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) would help to improve the condition of polytechnics in the country.
A senior lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Wole Alawode,  said: “It is sad that the protracted strike is yet to be called off and I pity the students including the Nigerian populace. Many Nigerians think our demands are about salary alone, but that is not the case. We are talking about the technological advancement of a nation.”
He explained that polytechnics were established mainly to promote adequate technical knowledge, adding that polytechnics needed a separate regulatory body.
A lecturer from the department of Mass communication, C.J. Ayelabegan, said for the past nine months, none of the lecturers’ demands had been met. Mrs  Ayelabegan explained that the demands were about equal recognition for both polytechnic and university graduates and the creation of a polytechnic commission.
“I am not aware of any part of the demands that has been met so far. The polytechnic commission will make us independent. Autonomy should be given to polytechnics the same way it was given to Nigerian universities because what is good for the goose is also good for the gander,” she stated.
The ASUP Chairman of the polytechnic, Dr Shola Ojeniyi, said the lecturers were willing to allow d strike to be called off if some of their demands were met, saying “we don’t want our students to become rogues. That’s why we are eager to resume work. Suspending the strike is not the best we want. It should be called off in the interest of students.”
source: http://thenationonlineng.net/new/lecturers-eager-to-return-to-classroom/

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