A growing concern is gripping the nation’s universities as a shortage of academic staff continues to plague the education system, raising serious challenges for both educators and students.
The dearth of university lecturers, a widespread issue affecting institutions across the country, has prompted educators to voice their worries over the detrimental impact on the quality of education.
A recent survey conducted in the South-East region shed light on the severity of the situation. Many lecturers find themselves overburdened, juggling an increasing number of courses due to the scarcity of academic staff.
Ikechukwu Onyishi, a dean at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), emphasized the strain this shortage has placed on existing staff, attributing it to retirements, deaths, and faculty members seeking opportunities abroad.
Onyishi expressed concerns about the government’s Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS), asserting that it has hindered the recruitment of new academic staff to fill the widening gaps.
He called for the government to empower vice-chancellors to address the issue by allowing them the flexibility to recruit and fill vacancies promptly.
Christian Opata, the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in UNN, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for the government to prioritize education and implement effective policies.
Opata disclosed that the allure of better conditions abroad was prompting more lecturers to seek opportunities overseas, exacerbating the shortage.
Opata also revealed that not only were lecturers resigning and going abroad for better prospects, but those on government scholarships for advanced degrees were opting not to return to Nigeria due to more favorable conditions abroad.
The shortage has led to a situation where lecturers are handling an overwhelming number of students, far exceeding the recommended ratio of one lecturer to 30 students.
In Abia, Maduike Ezeibe of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, highlighted the strain caused by the establishment of new universities.
Ezeibe, a professor of Clinical Virology, emphasized that the exodus of lecturers, particularly in professional courses, was exacerbating the crisis.
This shortage of university lecturers is not merely an administrative challenge; it has far-reaching consequences on teaching, learning, and the overall quality of graduates produced by Nigerian institutions.
NAN
