Addressing infrastructure deficit in varsities

Even after ASUU calls off its strike, observers say that the challenges of the education sector cannot be solved overnight.

Concerns have been raised and some students are discouraged they would return to the same old cramped lecture halls and hostels. The problem of inadequate lecture rooms and hostels has been existing before now.

A student, who expressed her displeasure on the inadequacy of learning spaces, said: “In my school, lecture rooms are inadequate. They are too small to accommodate students, so you find students cramped and some hanging outside the window during a lecture and there are no functional audio systems. When lectures are on, only those at the front can hear. There is also no proper ventilation for the large number of students.”

This kind of situation causes inconveniences, lack of concentration and discomfort.

A University of Benin student spoke about her lecture room experience — “Lecture rooms are totally not conducive from my experience. First of all, the issue of low number of seats. Most times, the number of seats in a class is less than the number of students which makes students squeeze themselves into desks causing inconvenience. This particular situation also fosters rowdiness and lack of concentration.”

School authorities really need to upgrade lecture rooms. There are inadequate numbers of seats and this can be very annoying. Many have to stand during lectures, sit on the floor and strain their ears.

There should be an expansion of classrooms to fit the number of students that are taking lectures, provision of a good sound system for everyone to listen to lectures.

Poor accommodation also hinders learning. Hostels provided in public universities are not proportional to the number of students admitted. This is a great challenge that needs urgent attention. As this issue is commonly associated with public universities, a larger percentage of students are from homes that are not financially buoyant to seek accommodation off-campus due to the exorbitant prices.

Therefore, the in-campus accommodation is preferable and more affordable. However, where there is lack of adequate accommodation on campuses, overpopulation becomes the order of the day.

First, this is a threat to healthy living. If students cannot afford other accommodation spaces, they are left with no other options than being cramped up in school hostels.

Staying off campus is better because you can choose a place of your taste or even have your own apartment, but it is expensive and most people can’t afford it.

School hostels should be better because some people are forced to stay off campus not totally out of choice but, due to the poor conditions of school hostels. Also there should be more hostels to avoid squatting.

• Ojoye-Kehinde is Lagos-based Corps member.