Campus Connect Weekly Contest - Week3- Making Changes By @stitches11

I am particularly enthusiastic about this contest, as my heartaches when I see the ruines of my Alma mater. Meanwhile, my name is ANAELE EMMANUEL CHIMAOBI, I am an alumnus of Abia State Polytechnic Aba, Nigeria.
Abia State Polytechnic is located in the heart of Aba the commercial hub center of Abia State. It was established in 1992 and sited along Aba Owerri road. It is composed of different schools, such as the school of Science and Engineering and school of Business Administration.

By virtue of the given contest, I am going to focus on 3(three) factors that can change or revitalize the status quo of this semi moribund institution.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Infrastructures abound in the campus, yet the environment, the space is so small to house an institution of that size and capacity. Though several attempts has been made to move the institution to a befitting location, but bureaucratic bottlenecks and changes in governance has stifled every attempt,thereby stunting the growth of the institution.
Recent developments shows that land has been allocated to the institution along the popular Aba-Port-Harcourt express way. No concrete work is ongoing at the site at the time of writing this article.

Making Changes

Hence,i suggest that immediate actions should be taken to ensure that this great institution is relocated promptly. The fate Abia State Polytechnic Aba has been hanging in the balance for several years, all hands must be on deck to move forward.
The institution is in dare need of such lift, as there has been a drastic loss of students to other people institutions around the metropolis and even outside the state. Previously, the institution can boast of massive numbers of college students, that most lecture halls cannot contain most classes on one lecture section. As I write those are events of yesteryears.
I strongly believe that all hope is not lost, in that the newly allocated site is strategically located and the commercial hub center Aba is just kilometers away. The low cost of living and peaceful coexistence the people is always going to be a attraction to make the institution a choice place when the relocation is finally achieved.

COMPETENT LECTURERS

I am embarrassed to highlight this factor, as most lecturers in the institution do not know their onions, as they cannot impact knowledge nor teach effectively. Some are accustomed to not coming to class throughout the semester, yet they expect all the college students to pass their courses.

Nevertheless, some lecturers are more concerned about selling textbooks and collect tips for assignments and tests. There was this sad situation whereby those who purchased the textbooks were automatically awarded 30marks by the lecturer and those who could not afford them were made to struggle for 70marks in the general examination.

However, the ugliest of them all is the act of sorting courses and sex for marks. This trend is prevalent in the institution as most buoyant college students take courses of study and exams for granted, because they know their way to the lecturers office. Whereas those who can't afford it especially the female students crave to the indulgence of these promiscuous lecturers. Some of these notorious lecturers most times intentionally fail or misplace scripts of most female students so that they will come running to them for swift ratification, thereby subduing them to do their biddings.

MAKING CHANGES

I suggest strict adherence to ethics and behaviour, all male lecturers should be checked and regular evaluated, and more competent lecturers be giving the nod based on merit, not based on ethnicity, tribalism or godfatherism.
Additionally, the institution should establish a standard bookshop where every student can purchase textbooks without any fear of being victimized. Finally, the shameful act sorting courses should be religiously checked and stopped.

COST OF EDUCATION

The upward trajectory of tuition fees at Abia State Polytechnic Aba, is worrisome. Fewer families or individuals can afford them. Apparently, this buttress the fact higher education faces an unattainable future.
It might interest you to know that least fee charged according to the list of courses is N56, 550,that is quite high from every aspect.
I recall several mate of mine who could not return to continue with us after their mandatory one(1)year industrial attachment,which is a prerequisite to commence for Higher National Diploma(HND) citing hike in school fees.

Furthermore, owing lecturers salaries and allowances spanning into months and years is another factor that contributes to high cost education at Abia State Polytechnic Aba. At the backdrop of this they resort to self help such as 'sorting', to help make ends meet, at the expense of students who have already paid exorbitant tuition fees.

Summarily, regular strike actions embarked by the academic unions, also fan the embers of the high cost of tuition fees in the institution. This ugly trend has keep most undergraduates of Abia State Polytechnic Aba at home for several months. Most pay rents for apartments and it expires uninhibited.

MAKING CHANGES

I hereby suggest, a holistic review of the tuition fees in Abia State Polytechnic Aba, and regular payments of lecturers salaries.

Conclusively, Education is the hallmark of any healthy or growing economy. I am grateful for this platform granted me by Campus Connect and @whitestallion, to proffer solutions. This contest which focuses on Making Change brings to bear what can be done to improve a very important aspect of our everyday living Education.
THANK YOU FOR COMING THROUGH