NAN-H-28
Universities
Bauchi Nov.24,2016 (NAN) A university don, Dr Yusuf Ibrahim, has attributed the high number of ‘First Class’ graduates being dished out by private universities to the competition among such universities for patronage.
Ibrahim, International Relations lecturer at the Bauchi State University, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi that because private universities were out to make ‘profit’ and not to provide, their fees were beyond the reach of ordinary people.
“They need patronage because they are in business and patronage entails selling your service.
“By churning out ‘First Class’ graduates, parents that can afford to send their children to such institutions, will be encouraged to do so.
“That is not to say that they do not provide quality education. They have qualified lecturers who must work for what they earn, and hardly embark on strikes.
“Because of the fairly manageable ratio of students per lecturer, the learning environment is conducive and an advantage that propels quality learning,” he said.
He however argued that private universities were not playing the role of bridging the wide gap between the number of applicants and the insufficient vacancies available in public universities.
“Most applicants are from poor background who cannot afford the fees charged in private universities and that is why the population of private universities is always small.
“May in future, if they are forced by competition to bring down their charges, we may begin to see children of the poor attending such universities and that will be the time they will be bridging the gap,” he said.
Ibrahim however observed that moral standard was very low in such institutions because of the background of the students.
“Most of the student are from influential families and had been over-pampered. Sometimes, as a lecturer, you have to be careful in handling them, lest you incur the wrath of their powerful parents.
“Even where there are codes for moral behavior, strict implementation is lacking,” he said. (NAN)
AE/ASH/ASH