Continuation….

Miss. Helen C. Asogwa, 200-level student of University of Nigeria Enugu Campus ( UNEC) lamented “This has made them experience academic stress and frustration because everything is jammed closely with a lot to be covered.”

She advised that lecturers should release their slides or materials on time and students should organize reading groups to help themselves in other to cope the situation. However, She revealed that it has been stressful coping with this short semester timetable of events, since it’s a problem affecting both the lecturers and students.

In light of this, another interview was held with a lecturer from the department, Dr Chidiebere Nwachukwu, who revealed that the the challenges facing both the school management, lecturers and students came as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, ASUU strikes and even 2023 election break.

“We actually understand why things are going on this way, the COVID 19, ASUU Strike and other things have actually affected academic calendar. Both the management and lecturers are actually working hard to see that it doesn’t affect students so negatively as we don’t want a situation where somebody who came in here for a 4 year program will end up doing the program for 6 years or 7 years.” He explained.

He further urged students to understand the difficulties and also show empathy for the efforts being made to minimize the negative impact on academic progression, He added that, “students should be calm just as lecturers are also elected to be calm. Because as a faculty member, it has not been easy on anyone, it’s either you are teaching or you are marking script or you are publishing results or you are doing research. So we understand the pain students are passing through because we too are feeling the pain.” He admonished.

On the aspect of students arguing that some lecturers are not up to in coming to classes, he said, “it has been my experience here that students are not always around when the semester begins. They choose the time to come to school and sometimes lecturers will want to come to class but students will not be there and even the classes we be locked.”

While also highlighting the shared struggle and the need for patience and understanding from all parties involved in the academic process, Dr. Nwachukwu revealed that, “this semester started as far back as 6th May, 2024 but how many students were in school at that time. It’s so easy for students to complain and cast stones on lecturers forgetting that they are the ultimate cause. We lecturers did not travel as we were in school marking script. So students should not try to blame lecturers on that.”

Although, he urged everyone to remain calm and take things easy as everything will normalize with time.

@Moses Okanya ✍️