This article comes in the wake of the recent directive by the Ogun State, government to rationalize the state owned tertiary institutions, notably the decision of the state government to scrap Tai Solarin University of Education and merge it with the faculty of education of the Olabisi Onabanjo University. The decision if taken may and may not be in the interest of many as several people have applauded it while others have also criticised it. Several reactions have trailed this announcement since it was made public knowledge.
The Ogun State government released a statement regarding the policy that its decision regarding Tai Solarin University of education was aimed at arresting the loss of focus, direction, inadequate funding and general inefficiency which characterised the operations of the school under the last administration.
Before the inception of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun led administration in Ogun State, the state had the highest number of higher institutions in Nigeria. Apart from Olabisi Onabanjo University and Tai Solarin University of Education, there are (4) four ICT polytechnics, a state college of education, Moshood Abiola polytechnic, an Oil and Gas institute and a college of health technology, not counting the federal and private higher institutions. The proliferation of institutions according to the Ogun State government has led to underfunding and lack of proper supervision by the relevant government agencies, thereby creating an inefficient and corrupt system.
Despite the numerous reasons given above by the government of Ogun State for attempting to scrap the institution, it is important to note that the novelty for the establishment of a purposefully built education degree awarding university started with the former Chief Olusegun Osoba’s Government, when in 2002 Tai Solarin College of Education’s law was amended to, make it a degree awarding institution. The Otunba Gbenga Daniel led administration just took the idea to a higher level January 29, 2005 to establish TASUED as a combined NCE and degree awarding institution.
Sequel to a decision made by the Supreme council for colleges of education for TASUED to be separated from TASCE, a decision that saw the latter move to Omu-ijebu. TASUED as a fully fledged university became a platform with which tertiary education seeking youths could view teacher education in another dimension that differs from the unfortunate image that is often ascribed to teachers and teacher education in the country. Besides, it can be recalled that there are specialized Universities of Agriculture, specialised Universities of Science and Technology but the building block of learning and knowledge was conspicuously sidelined until the establishment of TASUED.
Moreover, scrapping a fully fledged university like TASUED would be detrimental to the socio-economic development of the benefiting communities. The series of infrastructural facilities that were developed because of the establishment of TASUED would become wasted and unutilised. The surrounding townships that have benefited through increased commercial activities would see their fortune dwindle overtime.
Tai Solarin University of Education currently has well over 18000 students in both part-time and full time programmes, scrapping TASUED and merging it with a faculty of education in another institution brings to question how that can be achieved. How can just one faculty house well over 18000 students, it just means that it would be almost impossible to manage such, given the kind of resources that may be available to the authorities that be. TASUED as an institution is broken into four Colleges, with each college responsible for its fair share of students. Merging this already complex situation with another is more or less an invitation into a future of complexities in the near future.
It would be unimaginable to think about the rate of unemployment that would emanate as a result of scrapping the university. Youths or adults alike, who could have otherwise gotten engaged in one productive activity or the other would be tempted to go back to a life of crime, hence causing insecurity in the state. In fact, scrapping a fully fledged university simply means that a lot of people that were otherwise engaged or in the employ of the university either directly or indirectly would increase, adding to the level of unemployment, which is already in existence in the country.
One of several reasons for scrapping TASUED was the lack of funding, this reason seems puzzling to an individual like me, based on the level of revenue generated from fees, dues etc. State universities have always been fairly expensive when compared with federal universities, hence the question as to where all those amounts that students pay in tuition and other extra levies go. Moreover, since education is all about adding and giving value, it won’t be a sin if the value of education for student is reflected in their tuition.
Another reason given by the state government for wanting to scrap the institution is the lack of necessary facilities and equipments. The last time a survey was carried out where the training of teachers is concerned, there are no special facilities recommended to train a teacher, moreover there are such things as “improvisation” in a course titled the methodology of teaching which refers to the ability of an individual to make the best use of the resources at his/her disposal. There was a period in the history of this same institution when there was a dearth of this said facilities and equipments. But over the years these anomalies were corrected and the level of development that the institution experienced over that period can only be described as phenomenal. TASUED can now boast of several lecture theatres in all the colleges of the institution, a well stocked and updated library just to mention a few.
So instead of an outright scrapping of the institution, the government may want to take a step backwards and re-assess the situation before a decision is taken. Thank you.
