Kogi State University had always been known for academic excellence, good morals and for breeding people of high standards.
Nobody doubted the works of all the VCs, most especially the most revered, Prof F.S Idachaba (of great memories). The school grew so fast under his arms. But they say, "good people do not last".
KSU used to be envied by many other schools because of the quality of graduates they produced year in, year out. We had great lecturers, wonderful admins who were ready to make us learn and also keep up with good habits.
During my stay for over 5 years (as my course required and ASUU strike inclusive), I can say I was in night class for majority of the days and would return late at night on lonely road without fear of being attacked by robbers or cultists. The only time I was arrested was when the "Enter Bus" nabbed me and released me few minutes after they confirmed I was only coming back from night class around past 2am. Then, we would read with school light from 7:30pm, and by 12midnight the light goes off. We used our rechargeables and candle lights for the remaining parts of the nights.
Gone are the days.
Maybe I no longer follow trends.
The KSU we left, by 12midnight the Lecture theatres are still lit. Alot will still be in class reading. Many were making efforts to succeed academically.
Gone are the days.
Nowadays, I ask some final year students questions on how to write projects and seminars and how to analyze data, they do not know the basics. So, this is the kind of graduates doing "FYB week and Back to school"? I even ask some of the students in 100 and 200 levels how regular they visit and make use of the library, and they tell me they don't have library cards. As in, for real?
Then, if I wanted to take a stroll after a long time in night class, I knew the classes to see my friends at that hour. If you delayed coming to class to read, your seat would be reserved because it was the same persons coming to class to read and sitting on their preferred classes and even desks that time.
What are these ones doing in school?
I drive past the Lecture Theatres and Classrooms to visit family house many atimes. By 9:00pm, you won't see shade of light in most of the classrooms. The light is off, no protests. The Social Science LTs and classrooms used to be filled and noisy then even till past 1:00am because many used to see the spot as spot for catching babes and guys even as they still read their books.
Nowadays, I see many of these girls jumping about. Some are into prostitution. The rate is so alarming now. The boys are now more concerned with Yahoo, smoking and cultism, girls are not out of this. Young people, they want to drive classy Benz. You see them everywhere with blings, chains, earrings and dreads. They are present with babes, everywhere. The girls are on bumshorts, on just panties and one kind of indescribable gowns. They have their iPhones and long nails. They just move about to flex.
These are little children in their teens and early twenties.
I asked my friends who are lecturers to clear me on this. They too are as lost as myself. They say many of the students do not care about their grades. I remember crying with my room mate over our first semester 100 level result because it was below our expectations and nothing to write home about compared to the input. That was the standard raised those days.
These students boldly walk to their lecturers to assist them to pass. Things are this bad in the KSU I used to know. They are in class making calls, chatting and not even taking notes. This is sad.
A week to exam and they are still not bothered. No panic one bit. They move comfortably. They hangout as though they were in the first weeks of the semester. Where are these ones from?
Parents no longer ask of their children's grades in school. Wow!!! Just wow!!! What changed?
This has to change.
I don't want to say it is from home these kids got this training, our parents are usually good trainers na, but home did not do the homework they used to.
I don't want to say the government do not offer us hope. Some persons are still thriving even under this difficult economic situation na. I accept a lot of us are suffering, but I still see some not losing it na. I still see some not dumping their home training to do those things we used to regard as forbidden na. I still see some legit and serious minded people na.
I don't want to agree with this situation. Things have to change. Atleast, this is an academic ground. This is my alma mater, and I am always proud of her. Things have to change.
From the house, things have to change. From the school, things have to change. From individuals, things have to change. From stakeholders, things have to change. From the government, things really have to change.
The change starts from you.
By Emmanuel Amanabo Theophilus
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