… UI, UNILAG allay students’ fears
Photo:
Sun News Publishing
Date:Wed, 06/27/2012 - 21:48
Less than 48 hours after the National Universities Commission (NUC)
directed universities offering part-time programmes to stop running
courses, fears have gripped students across the country undertaking such
programmes.
The NUC Executive Secretary, Prof Julius Okojie, while issuing the suspension on part-time programmes in the universities on Monday in Abuja, said the directive was aimed at rationalizing the activities of the universities and bring them in line with best practices as well as ensure standards. Daily Sun investigations gathered that the news of the NUC directive generated confusion among part-time students in some universities as many of them tried to seek explanation from those in charge of the programme or their lecturers.
Also, those caught in the NUC directive were students undertaking part-time masters degree programmes and others offering undergraduate courses in Distance Learning Institute (DLI) programmes. Beside running DLI programmes, many of the universities also offered part-time courses in selected faculties.
When contacted on phone, the Director of Distance Learning Institute (DLI), University of Lagos, Prof. Funke Lawal, told Daily Sun that her students were not affected, saying “we are running Open Distance Learning (ODL) not part-time programmes.”
In a swift reaction, the authorities of the University of Ibadan (UI) yesterday allayed the fears of its students under its open and distance-learning programme. The university authorities told them not to panic. Speaking through the Director of Public Communications, UI, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, the Director of Distance Learning Centre (DLC), Prof. ‘Bayo Okunade, assured current and prospective students, and the public that the directive of NUC did not affect the DLC of UI, in any way.
According to Okunade, “UI DLC is a provider of distance learning that is largely mediated by technology and therefore not a provider of part-time education. There is a difference between DLC and part-time. The latter is essentially patterned along the conventional delivery system on non-full time basis.”
He further said: “It is important to assure all stakeholders that UI Distance Learning Centre (DLC), is in a very good standing as one of the very few DL institutions in Nigeria.” Reacting on the suspension, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said students and other stakeholders should not panic or entertain any anxiety on the matter.
Equally, some students of Lagos State University (LASU) expressed concern on the suspension of part-time programmes and wondered if the directive affects their courses in view of the Lagos Government action to gradually phase out the programmes.
The NUC Executive Secretary, Prof Julius Okojie, while issuing the suspension on part-time programmes in the universities on Monday in Abuja, said the directive was aimed at rationalizing the activities of the universities and bring them in line with best practices as well as ensure standards. Daily Sun investigations gathered that the news of the NUC directive generated confusion among part-time students in some universities as many of them tried to seek explanation from those in charge of the programme or their lecturers.
Also, those caught in the NUC directive were students undertaking part-time masters degree programmes and others offering undergraduate courses in Distance Learning Institute (DLI) programmes. Beside running DLI programmes, many of the universities also offered part-time courses in selected faculties.
When contacted on phone, the Director of Distance Learning Institute (DLI), University of Lagos, Prof. Funke Lawal, told Daily Sun that her students were not affected, saying “we are running Open Distance Learning (ODL) not part-time programmes.”
In a swift reaction, the authorities of the University of Ibadan (UI) yesterday allayed the fears of its students under its open and distance-learning programme. The university authorities told them not to panic. Speaking through the Director of Public Communications, UI, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, the Director of Distance Learning Centre (DLC), Prof. ‘Bayo Okunade, assured current and prospective students, and the public that the directive of NUC did not affect the DLC of UI, in any way.
According to Okunade, “UI DLC is a provider of distance learning that is largely mediated by technology and therefore not a provider of part-time education. There is a difference between DLC and part-time. The latter is essentially patterned along the conventional delivery system on non-full time basis.”
He further said: “It is important to assure all stakeholders that UI Distance Learning Centre (DLC), is in a very good standing as one of the very few DL institutions in Nigeria.” Reacting on the suspension, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said students and other stakeholders should not panic or entertain any anxiety on the matter.
Equally, some students of Lagos State University (LASU) expressed concern on the suspension of part-time programmes and wondered if the directive affects their courses in view of the Lagos Government action to gradually phase out the programmes.
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