Professor Iyabo Mabawonku of the Department of Library, Archival and Information Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, in this interview with KEHINDE ADIO, speaks about her recently delivered inaugural lecture, Nigerian education curriculum and admission issues in the country. Excerpts:
What can educators in the country learn from your lecture?
The lecture laid emphasis on the development of library as the key factor in learning the process. It also pointed out the relevance and value of library as the gate keeper and documentary resource centre of knowledge and information for country and institutions of learning. It also encouraged university authorities and the government to promote technology as part of the learning process.
What is the relevance of inaugural lectures in the university system?
Inaugural lectures are meant to introduce new professors to the society and to let it know what the professor has researched into and to also relate it to the town and the gown. Inaugural lectures let the general public know some salient issues that the researchers have been working on and their findings, and how each finding relates to national development. Also, they are to let the society know what is going on in the university and how it can contribute to national development.
All university research report that emanate from various inaugural lectures are supposed to be forwarded to the government and other various agencies, so they can make use of them.
How would you rate the Nigerian school curriculum?
In my opinion, the Nigerian school curriculum is not too bad. What I feel is lacking is how to implement the curriculum that would guarantee academic success and skills development.
It is common knowledge that most Nigerian schools at all levels lack the necessary facilities in terms of infrastructure, experienced teachers, teaching aids and incentives for staff, as well as stocked library and librarian to implement the curriculum.
Even when a higher institution has the best curriculum but lacks the wherewithal, the students will not benefit from such curriculum. The problem of Nigeria is not curriculum development, but lack of adequate and efficient facilities.
University admission processes get tougher every year. What is your take on this?
I believe the entire admission processing system should be reviewed and restructured.
JAMB candidates face a lot of stress and challenges during registration processes; there must be a way out. As far as I am concerned, each university should be allowed to conduct its entrance examination, while JAMB serves as the coordinator. It is becoming a serious task for JAMB to conduct entrance examination for millions of students. Therefore, if each university and other institutions are given the autonomy to conduct their entrance examinations using their established screening formula, the development will go a long way to sensitise the system for efficiency.
In the advanced countries, individual universities conduct their entrance examinations. In view of this, government should allow JAMB to serve as the clearing house and coordinating body, while each university is responsible for the conduct of its entrance examination.
Can you compare what obtained in your university days with what this present generation is facing in the system?
In terms of core content of what is being taught, I can say that things have improved tremendously. Teaching and learning now are better than what obtained during our time. Students now have access to literature, information and technology. Teaching is more wholesome now.
I was in the university between 1967 and 1970. At the time, all universities in Nigeria had only one examination at the end of the session. There was no course system. Everybody wrote the examination in June. We called it the “almighty June.” The implication was that students would have to read all that had been taught in the whole session. The curriculum was so wide that one might not be able to read through the entire note, and due to this, a lot of students broke down. We had more mental sicknesses and mass failures and very few students finished with first class honours because of the examination being conducted once in a session.
By the end of 1970, the course system was introduced into the university. The course system shared the year into two parts. We then had the first semester and second semester course programmes. When the courses were broken to two parts, it became easier for teachers to teach and for students to learn. With the introduction of two course system, things really improved in the university system.
The internet/technology facilities are a plus to learning procedures in the 21st century. Learning is far better than what it was in the past. However, the 21st century university campus life is not without its disadvantages and challenges. One of such is population congestion in the system.
How do you think library can promote education development in Nigeria?
Library is the store house of knowledge. Unfortunately today’s government is not paying attention to library education development, simply because it seems not to appreciate the role of library in the education system. It is high time government, educational agencies and education planners invested more in the development of library education in the country.