Dr. Ajayi Iyela is the Provost, Federal College of Education (FCE) Okene, Kogi state. In this interview, the former acting provost of FCE, Katsina, speaks on his modest achievements in FCE, Okene, the accompanying challenges, and also bares his mind on the controversial call for the scrapping of JAMB. OYIBO SALIHU reports. Excerpts
What will you describe as your modest achievements?
On the achievements, I am sure this question can be better answered by members of the college community. But, in any case, in terms of infrastructural development in the college in the last seven years, we have done tremendously well, far beyond expectation. We have been able to attract many capital projects to the college. Also in terms of maintenance of peace, we have done very well to the admiration of staff, students and even the host community. In terms of academic development we have not done badly.
For instance, students take their examinations at the stipulated time . We operate semesters devoid of strike or rancour, and follow the institution’s academic calendar religiously and students get their results at the right time.
What is the relationship between the institution and University of Ibadan?
FCE Okene is affiliated with the University of Ibadan. It is the university that ensures standards and award degree certificates to our students. I am proud to announce that just last year the first set of graduates of the college degree programme in affiliation with the University of Ibadan, totalling 98 students, successfully completed their studies.
The programme has in this last three years, undergone tremendous growth and expansion in students population, academic courses and infrastructure. It is also imperative to say that the staff of the College Directorate of Undergraduate Programme have made lots of sacrifices to ensure the continuing success of the programme
Since the beginning of this undergraduate programme, I must also add that it has been a most enriching relationship for the college .
We have benefited immensely from our interactions with the premier university in Nigeria and the fruit of this affiliation is not just in the prestigious name that the students of our degree programme enjoy, but has impacted positively on the college in many ways.
It is also worthy to note that the vibrant intellectual relationship that has been forged between the college and the university of Ibadan has been of great benefit to our lecturers who now routinely interact and share valuable contents and ideas with lecturers from the university , and even from Obafemi Awolowo University.
On the fall in standard of education in Nigeria
Well, this question does not have a generally acceptable answer. There are those who aver that the standard of education has fallen in the country and hinged their argument on the low quality of graduates from universities. These days, many of them cannot express themselves in spoken English. There are also those who argue that the standard of education has fallen, because of the persistence poor performance of students who sit for external examinations like WAEC, NECO and NABTEB.
Therefore, there is no consensus on whether the standard of education is falling or not. However, what I will say is that there is every need for improvement in the education sector in terms of funding, engagement of quality teachers, provision of facilities and improvement in the welfare of the teachers because teachers occupy a central position in the educational system of every country.
Parents also have significant role to play in the effort of improving the standard of education in this country. A situation where parents devote their time and energy on the business they do without having time to check the day- to- day activities of their children, especially in the area of their studies, is detrimental to the future of such children. Therefore, until parents have a rethink and do otherwise, things will continue to deteriorate because teachers have limited time to stay with the students.
By and large, once government is able to provide adequate facilities, improve on the conditions of service of teachers, employ the right calibre of teachers in terms of quantity and quality, fund education adequately and once parents play their role, I am very sure that the controversy surrounding the falling standard of education will be a thing of the past.
Relationship between the institution and the students
The relationship between the Management of this College and the students is very cordial. My administration’s number one priority is students’ welfare. That is why we always treat issues of students’ welfare with utmost attention it deserves and toward this end, the college’s management channels reasonable resources to providing an enduring and friendly environment for rewarding academic pursuit by our students.
The students also on their part, give us the desired support to move the institution to another level of development. We operate open door policy and any decision we will take that concerns the students, we always ensure that the Student Union Government (SUG) is part of it. Through these, students have a sense of belonging.
Challenges
The main challenge we are having as an institution of higher learning is funding. If we are adequately funded there is virtually nothing we cannot do to transform this institution. We have many plans for this College, but fund is our major constraint. However, this problem is not limited to the institution.
Tackling cultism menace
Well! There are some of our students who live off campus. The host community assists us to monitor them by way of reporting to us any unlawful act for quick action. Within the premises of the College, students check themselves and report to us any vices that contravene our laid down rules and regulations. Once we suspect any of them, we swing into action.
The mutual understanding within the students, the cordial relationship between the Management, the students and the host community help us tremendously in tackling cultism in this institution.
Social responsibilities to the host community
As part of our social responsibility to Otite community, this institution in the last seven years had dug bore-holes to alleviate the suffering of the community in the area of water especially during dry season. We employed the youths, train them to acquire skills free of charge, consider the community in contract awards and so on. We basically identify with them in their moments of joy, pain or grieve.
Funding the projects
The money we use in executing projects comes from the Federal Government and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. We made judicious use of the funds allocated to us which is the reason we are able to embark and complete many capital projects in the College. We try as much as possible to manage any amount we got from the Federal Government. It is not as if we are getting special consideration from the government. Judicious utilisation has been our secret.
On call for scrapping of JAMB
In my opinion, JAMB should not be scrapped. It has performed well. Instead of scrapping JAMB, the Post-UME examinations organised by tertiary institutions should be stopped. There is no longer any justification for the Post-UME examinations. This is because with the introduction of Computer Based Examination by JAMB, cases of examination malpractices and miracle centres have been reduced to the barest minimum. Therefore the marks scored by students nowadays are a reflection of their abilities. Tertiary institutions should recognise the JAMB scores instead of organising another examination.
The few problems with the Computer- Based Examination in the last JAMB exam is not an excuse to jettison it as scrapping the Computer- Based Examination would mean taking the country backward. We should find solutions to the minor problems discovered during the last JAMB examinations with the intent of strengthening the Computer -Based Examination.
Effort to improve the Internally Generated Revenue
The College has a guest house, sachet water factory and we are planning to venture into large poultry farm and fish pond. We are constructing a large ICT centre for internet services and with this, many candidates within Ebiraland who most often than not, travel far to write examination, will now have the opportunity to do so in this college. We will help them and also make money from them. All these had been put in place to improve our IGR to complement whatever we receive from Federal Government especially now that the economy is facing problems.
Your experiences as a member, TETFUND Book Advisory Committee
I am a member of the Book Advisory Committee of TETFUND. I have served for three years and reappointed for another three years. What we do mainly is to recommend to TETFUND those manuscripts and journals that are of quality and suitable for publication. Honestly, I am using this medium to thank TETFUND for their unflinching support to this College and other tertiary institutions in this country. They have been very wonderful to us.
