CAMPUS REVIEW: OSPOLY Students Rally Against Commercialisation Of Education

 

• Management Releases ND Part Time Form

By Joshua Afolabi

Students of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree led by the Students Union President, Bolaji Olaniyi converged on Monday to rally against commercialisation of tertiary institution in Nigeria.

The rally was tagged 5,000 OSPOLY Students Walk Against Commercialisation of Tertiary Education.

Students of the institution were sighted converged in large number, with different Aluta songs.

The president in his speech during the rally, said it was meant to lend support for the masses who are gradually becoming victims of turning the education sector into business venture as evident by developments in other tertiary institutions of the country.

In his statement, “the entire news space has been obviously awash with talks of commercialisation of tertiary education in the country and it is not a miscarriage of judgement to say that the government is now acting in pursuance to the inhumane policy of shifting more burden of funding the education sector on parents”.

“The implication of this is that, parents and sponsors would be made to shoulder responsibilities that are supposed to be borne by government”.

“Just recently, students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology went through a near-hell experience, as their tuition fee was increased by over 130 per cent.

“It took series of appeals and demonstrations before the inimical upward review was reversed but to about 50 per cent”.

The president revealed that, similar fate was suffered by the students of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree last session.

“We want to say at this point that we cannot condone any alien policy that would be inimical to our studentship. Many could be forced out of school by this policy. Even coming generation who are of humble background would be discouraged from going to school.

“It is noteworthy at this point to take a position against it as it would go a long way in affecting our ambitions of becoming someone great in future. By this, we mean, it has now become a responsibility for us to come together as one united people with one voice and echo it to the concerned stakeholders that we refuse any agenda to shift government’s responsibilities of providing affordable education to the masses.

Meanwhile, management of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree has announced that the admission form for the National Diploma programme into the Two Years Daily Part Time programme of the institution is now available for sales.

According to a statement by the Registrar, B. M. Salawu, courses are available in the following Faculties: Engineering, Science, Information and Communication Technology, Environmental Studies, Financial Studies and Management Studies.

Applicants are expected to have credit passes in English, Mathematics and any other three subjects relevant to their Course of study