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The Option of Open University in Nigeria
“No one could be
too big, busy or old to learn. The Open University with its distance
learning facilities was a functional reality.”
President Olusegun Obasanjo
That was the remark of
President Olusegun Obasanjo at his matriculation recently as a new
student of National Open University of Nigeria. The bold step taking by
the Present demonstrated that no one may be old, too powerful or
extremely engaged to pursue academic knowledge. His action further
promotes the importance of the new policy of Open University system of
education in Nigeria.
The National Policy on Education in 1981 described Education as the most important instrument of change in our society. It further stated that “Any fundamental change in the intellectual and social outlook of any society has to be preceded by an educational revolution.” It also provides that Federal Government should make life long education as the basis for the nation’s education policy and that at any stage of educational process after primary, an individual will be able to choose between continuing the full time studies, combining work with studies or decide to embark on full employment without excluding the prospect of resuming studies later on. It is important at this stage to commend the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo for the rebirth of the National Open University in Nigeria for the benefit of potential graduates. When President Olusegun Obasanjo launched the academic programme on 1st October 2002, little did the world believe in its success. Most people were in doubt when negative signals came during the first enrollment with fewer candidates making its list. Mrs. S.O. Yusuf, the Coordinator of Abuja center disclosed that the National Open University was first established in July 1983 more than twenty three years ago, but was closed down a few months in 1984 because of various defects and reasons meant to be corrected by the then Federal government. According to her, the Act of the 1983 that established the institution suspended same in 1984 and was reactivated in the year 2001 by the present administration with the backing of National Assembly bill passed on the floor of the house. She also added that Open Distant learning mode was long entrenched in other parts of the world despite its infancy in Nigeria. The second orientation of new batch of NOUN students which took place nationwide in the 27 centers, in the six geopolitical zones of the country was well attended with over fifty thousand students present. This is an evidence of acceptable and positive response of majority working class of this nation to the programme. The aims and objectives of the Open University is to provide education for all, filling the gap created by the closure of outreach /satellite campuses through cost effectiveness and improved economic of scale. The mission of the Open University of Nigeria is to be regarded as the foremost University providing highly accessible and enhanced quality education anchored by social justice, equity and National cohesion through a comprehensive reach that transcends all barriers. The backdrop of the present development in educational needs is the rising cost of funding education, and backlog of large portion of the population seeking university placement in Nigeria. According to Professor Olugbenro Jegede, the vice chancellor of the university, the motives behind the government’s move to revisit the issue of Open University is to find lasting solutions to the deprivation being experienced by thousands of Nigerians who are not only hungry but also thirsty for knowledge and certification in education. During the last orientation of the second batch of the institution various questions were raised by the students and publics ranging from moral social, economic and financial situation. The vice chancellor described the institution as flexible, cost effective and an avenue to quality education. The government in its responsibility to enhance the standard of education and standard of living of its populace should not at all fold its arm in the funding or supplementing the funding as obtained in conventional institutions in Nigeria. There is no doubt in the standard of the school or academic orientation but the question is how affordable is the school fees putting into consideration the status of most of the students, though workers but also parents. In fact the campuses of this institution require a lot of activities and infrastructure for smooth takeoff. Going round the centers, most of the infrastructures are yet to be put in place after two years when the school is supposed to have produced different categories of graduates for its certificate, diploma, and degree and post graduate programmes. For instance there are no furnished tutorial classrooms, even when the students are encouraged to explore the avenue for group discussion in various departments and field of study. In fact the resources need to be improved upon. The National University Commission also needs to resolve the issue of accreditation of some of the programmes offered by the Open University since some of the academic calendar is a year. In order to achieve its purpose of its achievement, it required the co-operation of the stakeholders- the government, the school management and the students, including the internal and external publics of the institution. The government should be ready to support the management, while the management must also be transparent in its dealings.
Finally, the students
on their part must be ready to study as demanded by the laid down norms
of the institution and obey the Rules and regulations. It’s my candid
opinion that the establishment of the institution has come to stay.
Gabriel A.
Rotiba
National Press
Centre, Abuja
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