ASUU STRIKE:- VC'S OF PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES SYMPATHISES WITH AFFECTED STUDENTS VIEWs

Vice-Chancellors of private universities have expressed
concern and sympathy for students affected by the
protracted strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union
of Universities (ASUU), noting that there was need to end
the three-month-old impasse between the Federal
Government and the striking lecturers.
Expressing their discomfort, the VCs of Bells University of
Technology (BELLSTECH), Prof. Isaac Adeyemi; Redeemer's
University, Prof. Zachariah Adeyewa; Covenant University,
Prof. Charles Ayo; and Caleb University, Professor Ayodeji
Olukoju, noted that Nigeria's educational system needs
strategic planning and restructuring to regain its lost glory.
"some of my children are also affected by the strike and
have been pleading with me to send them to private
varsities because they are tired of staying at home. In fact, I
want to appreciate parents who are sending their children to
private varsities because they are making a lot of sacrifices. I
would have loved all my children to attend private varsities
but I can't afford the tuition fees.
"We are not happy that some of our children are becoming
grand-parents at home because of the ongoing imbroglio
between government and ASUU. The truth is that
government and the citizens are not totally committed as
the average parent will want to send his wards to smaller
African countries to acquire education, where they may be
lost to foreign cultures," VC, Redeemer's University, Prof.
Adeyewa said.
Also lamenting the unending industrial action by unions in
the country's public tertiary institutions, BELLSTECH VC,
Adeyemi, said parties going into an agreement, especially
between government and staff unions should put up an
implementation strategy that must be acknowledged by the
parties.
"This way, if there are changes in the agreement due to the
evolving realities of life, both parties must be carried along
and be willing to re-negotiate. We need to have a holistic
view of the project called Nigeria and agreement should be
based on current realities of life because no situation is
static. But I insist that there must be constant interaction
and mutual agreement between both parties.
"If government says this is what she can afford now, the
next thing is to agree on an implementation strategy for the
balance. However, we shouldn't wish away the fact that
those in government are also Nigerians and the good of our
education system is their concern. It takes a lot to fund
education and these funds can't be reared overnight,
making strategic planning necessary to restructure our
education system.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone provided by Airtel Nigeria.