NUC can’t regulate varsity appointments - Benue varsity VC

updated: Monday 02-02-2009

professor paul Sorkaaprofessor paul Sorkaa is the vice chancellor of Benue State University, Makurdi. A political scientist, who enjoys teaching despite his tight schedule as the chief administrator of the first state university in the Northern part of Nigeria, the vice chancellor speaks with John Akpodovhan on various issues of national interest, particularly the education sector of the country. Excerpts:

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has directed that only phd holders should be lecturers
in any Nigerian university from this year, what are the consequences of this on your institution?
That is a tall order, though the directive may influence affected lecturers to sit up and work for their phd. In theory, it is good for every lecturer to have his or her phd, but in the light of what is on ground, it becomes very difficult, because I know that universities are sharing staff. The order should not be straight jacketed. Are they enabling the universities to achieve the goal? people with phd don’t just come handy. There is need for the NUC to come out with clear plans for that laudable goal to become a reality.

Be that as it may, the NUC cannot order the universities by fiat. It has to be careful not to be seen as coming down to control; these institutions have councils that look into their researches, teaching and administration and, therefore, the NUC cannot and should not usurp their functions.

I think the NUC should be seen as recommending to government, how to adequately fund the universities. It should also advise on how to improve on the condition of service so as to enable the institutions to retain their lecturers. The good thing about the NUC’s order is that those lecturers who have not improved on what they have over the years have no option than to work for their phd, if they want to remain in the system. If you have been in a department for 10 years without developing yourself, there is need to look into that.

Examination mal practices have become a national malaise in the educational sector; in your university, how have you been able to tackle the unwholesome act?
We have faced it squarely because there are rules and regulations clearly spelt out on the conduct of examinations. These rules and regulations are in our students’ handbooks, which are given to them upon being admitted into our institution. We are proactive in seeing that our examinations are taken seriously by our students, and we have decisive ways of dealing with cases of examination malpractice. Our students know that such acts attract serious sanctions and while enforcing them, we adhere to the due process. They are aware that if caught, they will be dealt with. I believe that it is only when students are encouraged in misdemeanours that they indulge in them. I can confidently say that examination malpractices have reduced greatly in our institution.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) has publicly criticised the conduct of post-JAMB tests by universities in the country, what is your reaction to that?
I think Jamb has eaten deep into the autonomy of the universities, so much so that they are no longer examining their students based on their requirements. The issue of universities conducting post-jamb examinations came about because there was no correlation between students’ scores and their performances in the universities. We all know about the rampant manipulation of Jamb scores. Jamb talks about the involvement of universities in setting the questions, but are the universities also in the computer rooms, where the scores are collated by Jamb?

However, that is not to say some universities are not exploiting the students for their self interest. But we all know that universities should know the abilities of those coming for their programmes and also, we should not forget the political dimension to the situation. It is worthy to mention that the piper dictates the tune. The government or the proprietor of the universities also has to determine its values and how admission is spread in the overall interest of its citizens. But merit should be emphasised and people be allowed the choice of where to send their children to acquire education. Jamb should not seek to control, because it cannot control what it does not have. It would be difficult to control, especially the private universities. Their owners want to determine their admission, which makes them very difficult to supervise and control. The private institutions have to mobilise their resources from their students. Jamb should insist that facilities should be in place, rather than to insist on controlling the number of students coming into the universities. It should be more interested in the provision of facilities. It should be more interested in ensuring that only qualified candidates get into the universities. Only the universities, as responsible institutions, can determine the number of students they admit. I think the NUC should monitor the universities to ensure strict adherence to existing rules.

Jamb cannot interfere with the autonomy of the universities. parents and their children must have a choice and that is why the rich can afford to send their children to countries where educational institutions enjoy stability.

The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has advised countries to set aside 26 per cent of their budgets for education, what is your opinon on this benchmark?
There are competing needs and, therefore, this target cannot be realised, especially in the under-developed countries. I think the most important education is primary education. Once the majority of the people acquire primary education, which I believe is a necessary tool for salvaging the people from poverty and ignorance, the sky will be the limit. However, when we talk of 26 per cent of our budget put on education, we are saying education should take a prime place in the country’s list of needs. What we are saying is that education should be properly funded, but not to the neglect of other sectors of the economy. More funds should be put on education because of the crucial role it plays in our society.

One should also not forget that the availability of resources and how it is managed matter. I have come to realise that it is not the amount that matters; application of the resources should be top priority too, and its judicious use has to do with the values of the management.

When I look at the judicious way we have used money at our disposal, I feel proud. That is because we dont have the kind of billions of naira that go to universities owned by the Federal Government and other financially advantaged states in the country.

I am proud that the internally generated revenue from students’ fees go a long way in realising what we have achieved. We send our lecturers abroad for conferences within our limited resourses. We are proud of these achievements. From the comments I have heard about them, I am proud of the quality of our professors, lecturers and even students, many of whom are doing well in the private and public sectors. The school is a pride to the state and its people.

I’m very concerned about research and teaching. Benue State University is doing very well because of the huge support we enjoy fiom Governor Suswam’s administration and I’m happy and proud to be the vice chancellor of the university – the first state university in the Northern part of this country.

Has the involvement of lecturers in politics any negative impact on education in your school?
Man is a political animal and as such, the involvement of lecturers in politics is double edged, because it is expected that those who go into politics should have the knowledge and background. The university is a good recruiting ground and I believe that lecturers turned politicians will make positive contributions because there is a link between the two professions. But if it is for self-aggrandishment, one will be a failure.
I recall with pains that we lost the Commissioner for Rural Electrification and Cooperatives who made the difference within the short time he was in politics. Dr. Atoata Girgi was able to create link between theory and practice, but unfortunately, he is no more. He was a lecturer in my university.

Clearly, they can make a difference, but we know some go there and become abysmal failure because of their self interest. They don’t make a difference and if they come back to the institution, they will ask for schedules that they left. So, it is a double edged thing, some do well, some don’t because of their personal interests which they rate above those of the society. Even in the universities, these are pretenders who are just seeking for jobs.

What are your challenges as vice chancellor, Benue State University?
Challenges have always been there and will continue as long as the university exists. There are challenge, no doubt. The challenges of inadequate water, power, lecturers, staff, lecture theatres, accommodation for lecturers, students and other members of staff e.t.c.

We all know that the university is key to the development of our society and our people’s quest for education is on the increase, and there is limited space for them. Our carrying capacity is also limited; there is need for space. Over 40,000 people would want to come into our university, but where is the carrying capacity when the NUC directs me to admit under 3,000? Is this not a serious challenge?
This is a university existing side by side with a technical college. It is imposed on the technical college and it is a full-fledged science technical college with all the accompaniments of a technical college. Am I a vice chancellor or a principal of a technical college? There is need for employment at all levels. Where are the resources? We mainly depend on the state government resources vis-a-viz the Federal Government’s resources which are also limited. The revenue we make from our students is inadequate too, especially in the light of their background which makes us not to charge high fees.

Funding the university is capital intensive and because the government reckons with the institution as its beacon of existence, it ensures that it provides funds for research and teaching within its limited resources. This is a challenge and that is why I have to commend our governor for giving us the desired support.

And as I have said several times, we need to have the resources with which to establish the needed facilities, especially equipment and classrooms. As I am speaking with you, we have renovated most of our facilities, while works on others are ongoing. We need a library that is well stocked with up-to-date books and latest journals. Of course, without funding, these are not possible.

Don’t forget that the university is owned by the state government and the government has its own competing needs. We are very glad that this university means so much to the government and the Benue people. We are doing well because of the quality of staff we have and education that we offer. And it’s because, at the university’s take-off, we mobilised the best lecturers from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, University of Jos (UNIJOS) and the University of Calabar (UNICAL), and that is why our products are holding their own wherever they find themselves. To achieve this lofty heights was and is still a challenge. We learnt from the older universities and it was a challenge for us, because we have laid the foundation on which the university is built over the years. I’m happy I have the support of the government. You know, as vice chancellor, I also teach introductory courses and nationalism to 100 level students, based on certain principles that guide administration in this university. Other professors and most senior officials also take introductory courses so as to lay the foundation for the young ones in our institution. I have to lead by example and I have been doing so since I joined the university as one of its pioneer lecturers. Every student of law and political science, I teach introductory courses. Aside helping them to have a thorough knowledge of these introductory courses, you need to have a constant touch with your students.

As the vice chancellor, no matter my work load, I am also able to feel the pulse of the students so that they can also compare me with other lecturers in terms of the quality; the way I deliver my lectures, for example, or how I come to lectures one or five minutes late. All these are challenges.

We have challenges in developing people in the area of research and teaching and because we have been mobilising, it is a thing of joy to see these yielding positive results on the university. As I am talking with you, there has been increase in the number of phd holders the university has turned out within this period. Nothing gives joy to any vice chancellor than this. I believe this is how it should be, because we are producing those who would take over from us. We have to ensure that we keep on developing them in this regard. This is a challenge not only to me, but also to the university in particular and I think we are on course.

We have made giant strides in terms of advancement. Despite these challenges, we have staff and students who have supported me in seeing the institution to its present height. The sky is the limit and my people; general staff and management staff, have been wonderful in that regard and I appreciate them very much.

Another challenge facing me and the management is the quality of our products, and I have always said it that for me, to measure my worth, it is the people I have produced who are standing their ground, who are finding their feet, who are doing well throughout the world that you need to look at. That’s my worth and I think I need to continue to improve on that or else, I will lose touch with the reality on ground.

What is the situation of accreditation of courses in the university now?
When we talk of accreditation, the governor of our state and visitor to our university, Governor Suswam, has done excellently well for us by ensuring that he supports us financially in accrediting all our programmes. This is an area you can measure the quality of our institution. All our courses have been accreditated. On the whole, we have done exceedingly well, compared to other state or federal institutions in the country. It is exciting to have a governor whose priority is education. In one of his statements, our governor said education is the birth right of every Benue State child. He didn’t stop at that, he made sure that a bill to that effect was presented to the House of Assembly; it has now become law.

Are you not worried about the falling standard of education in the country? Is your university not affected by the development?
Everybody is worried, but it worries us more and this development is associated with many factors – parents, students and the values of the society have been bastardised. Students are no longer interested in working hard to pass their examinations. parents connive with their children to have their examinations held in magic centres where they get high scores that have no correlation with their performance. Some parents are ready to pay thousands of naira to secure magic results, but they are not ready to assist their children to get the required text books or monitor what their children are doing academically. parents are supposed to play the vital role expected of them.

However, in our university, the quality is high and we are doing our best to ensure that the set standard that has made our university the pride of the government does not fall. And in this regard, the government of the state is giving us the necessary support. Members of management and staff are also not relenting in their efforts to make sure that only the best is impacted on the students, and that is the reason we have been able to maintain the standard, and everything within our power will be done to maintain it.