My First Year Undergraduate Research and Social Impact Project
- Chukwuemeka Mokwe
- Feb 15, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 23
Substantiating Research Methodologies in Social Science
Issue: Student Hustle
Summary:
Student Welfare Survey about the Contemporary Challenge of “Student Hustle”
A. Hypothesis & Description: The survey was carried out by applying the survey pattern displayed below as a method of empiricism, collecting data on the observed or discovered challenge termed Student Hustle. The coined term Student Hustle is the physical struggle, strife, scramble and discomfort suffered by students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in their bid to attend classes and participate in lectures/ teaching and learning activities.
B. Hypothesis: The observed problem attracted suggestions and explanations, including:
ROOT CAUSE:
The underperforming and abysmal condition of educational facilities on my campus, UNN, is one of the many culminations of the poor investment and funding of education in Nigeria. It is a strand in the deep-rooted and agelong problem of negligent interest in the Nigerian educational sector that has haunted and threatened generations of students hitherto. It is a problem that demands the active involvement of every student in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. As a student currently on the University of Nigeria campus and a member of the University of Nigeria Medical Student Association (UNMSA), I hope to address it.
AGENCY:
Academic Staff of Universities in Nigeria (ASUU): represents and protects the interests of its members by persuading cooperation of the Nigerian government towards revitalizing the educational sector and the development of Nigerian universities.
University of Nigeria Medical Student Association (UNMSA): The medical student body on campus in charge of student welfare.
And the many concerted efforts of citizens, students and staff unions, academic institutions, pressure groups, and the Nigerian government.
POSSIBLE CAUSES OF STUDENT HUSTLE:
· Overpopulation of students due to an abnormal admission rate.
· Inadequate amenities to adequately support the influx of students.
CONSEQUENCES:
· Poor performance, participation and proficiency of students academically
· Demoralisation of Lecturers and Students
· Intellectual doldrum
· Deficient assimilation and proper interaction between students and lecturers
SOLUTION:
· Display of composure, responsibility, culture and honesty on the student’s part.
· Provision of adequate facilities for effective and practical teaching and learning conditions and theatre buildings to accommodate the population of students.
Quantitative Data and Survey Distribution:
Root Cause Analysis:
Development question: How can an optimal academic environment and better standard and facilities of education be maximized at the University of Nigeria (UNN) to achieve maximum student welfare?
Treatise on the 2020 ASUU Strike (Mission and Vision Statement):
Federal universities in Nigeria have faced ongoing challenges of underdevelopment, national neglect, and inadequate funding. This situation is more than just an inconvenience for the over 1.2 million students enrolled in these institutions, many of whom are currently at home due to disputes surrounding the importance of education in the country. These conflicts involve the Nigerian government and pressure groups such as the Academic Staff of Universities in Nigeria (ASUU), which takes drastic measures like incessant strike actions that collapse academic activities in Nigeria at the expense of students whose academic and professional progress are impeded.
This issue has hindered the intellectual growth and empowerment of Nigerian students like myself, causing the dreams, passions, and goals of those prepared to make lasting impacts on the world to be overlooked and underutilized.
Indeed, it is a complex national problem that affects the socioeconomic, medical, industrial, scientific and technological growth of the nation and contributes to the massive brain drain in Nigeria.
It is also a personal problem to student population, the University of Nigeria Medical Student Association, and one I am very passionate about.
At UNMSA, we are committed to embracing the globalized and digital era of the 21st century. In this era, a nation's global influence is largely determined by the strength of its educational system. We believe that a solid education is built on essential elements such as effective communication, critical thinking, writing, and creativity. These components serve as powerful tools for innovation, empirical understanding, and invention.
We strive for intelligence in a world that is rapidly evolving, where the boundaries between the arts and the fundamental principles of science and technology are increasingly blurred. Through our collective efforts, we aim to deepen our understanding of the dynamic nature of education.
We strive to organise free tutorials and sessions to support the academic performance of medical students, aiming to provide a contemporary context that enhances the school curriculum..
Through small contributions, selfless volunteer efforts, and access to electronic study materials, textbooks, and virtual study clubs on platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook, we strive to empower ourselves with a better understanding of the world. I have written a term paper that addresses the issue of inadequate remuneration for lecturers in Nigerian universities, which I believe is a significant factor contributing to students' struggles. This challenge stems from the poor national funding of education.
Treatise on the 2022 ASUU Strike
Sadly, two years after the nine-month-long 2020 strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, this is still the norm:
A clear example of the resource curse currently unfolding in Nigeria is the ongoing conflict between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government regarding funding for education in the country.
ASUU is a trade union well-known among students in public federal universities, as it represents and protects the interests of its members while promoting educational development in Nigerian universities. The union is particularly noted for its frequent industrial strike actions, which date back to 1999 and have been employed to urge the Nigerian government to cooperate in revitalizing the nation’s educational sector. The vast population of 1.2 million students in federal universities in Nigeria is currently at home due to ongoing conflicts regarding the state of education in the country. Key issues include the low salaries of lecturers, particularly those of ASUU members, which have not kept pace with rising inflation over the years. Additionally, there are concerns about decaying infrastructure and a lack of equipment and facilities in universities.
According to ASUU, there will be no resumption of classes in public universities until the renegotiated 2009 agreement is implemented and the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) platform is deployed. The government owes its members 12 years of earned academic allowances, and they have been on an outdated salary structure for 13 years. Meanwhile, political appointees and elected officials receive regular reviews of their salaries and allowances.
The 2009 agreement includes provisions for lecturers' welfare, entitlements, and salary review mechanisms, among other things. The current salaries are insufficient, and the Federal Government continues to owe them their earned allowances.
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