It is time to buckle down as a student

Elabor Awelu

The academic activities in the university of Ibadan resumed fully after the Academic Staff Union of University called off its 8 months strike on the 24th of October 2022. Gradually, the 11 weeks of teaching and revision is moving as days are counting. To many students, if holding the time from counting with a rope was possible, many would have held the time. The 24th of October is just like yesterday, buh what has happened academically is beyond what one can tell in just a day.

Students in certain levels and departments have started their continuous assessment in earnest. Students in the 200 level faculty of Art have done their first Continuous Assessment in GES 200 and likewise, students in the 100 level have done their first CA in GES 101 in general. Also, many have done impromptu tests and even while many students would clamour over the nature of the tests, some students would still be able to write. Suffice to say that in spite of the huge academic effects the strike had on students, the studentship they lost to the strike is back.

In the coming weeks, Continuous Assessments in various departments and courses would keep coming. This is to tell those yet to resume and even those who are yet to get serious with their academic activities to be prepared for the incoming “Shege” ahead. University of Ibadan is an institution that always believes its students are always prepared. So the unpreparedness of some certain students is not a concern to the University at all, when it’s time for tests and impromptu, so be it and also when the examination time comes, so be it.

However, it’s time now to realise the purpose of being in school even after many odds. In order to keep up the long goals and admirations, getting prepared as a student to face the real task is important. Reading should be the ultimate resort of students at this crucial moment in the University of Ibadan.

Moving on, there are certain students who, since the beginning of this semester, have always been getting course materials from lecturers and friends but haven’t really had the time to go over them. It’s understandable that many students got engaged in some activities during the period of strike that they are still finding it hard to leave to face academics, especially when they get money from the jobs. However, the University will never understand this. It’s ideal for students in this category to find a balance in between. And if it demands quitting to allow for full concentration then it’s advisable to do so.

Also, the involvement of some set of students in so many extracurricular activities in school that haven’t been allowing them to concentrate on their primary assignment in school is another big problem here on campus. And this, if not carefully considered by students and especially fresh students is going to really create a huge distraction. Well, it looks interesting to be a member of all the student organisations in the University and that is achievable but the consequence is enormous. Imagine a student is a member of about 6 different Organizations. Without a doubt, these organisations have activities that need commitments. Thus, no matter how brilliant he or she may be, it will have a certain effect on the student’s performance academically. Therefore, this is the right time to reduce them all in order to concentrate on the primary goal in school.