The Vice Chancellor of Anchor University Lagos (AUL), Prof. Samuel Oye-Bandele, has urged parents to enrol their wards into good schools for a better future, VICTORIA ADEWUNMI-ONI AND FAITH MALIK report.
Anchor University Vice Chancellor Prof. Samuel Oye-Bandele has dismissed claims that education standard has fallen in the country. In an interview with The Nation, he noted that the nature of education has taken a shift, and differs in various generations, adding that the best thing to do, is to compare present situations to improve the system.
He said: “Before anybody would say education standard has fallen or has risen, they should use various parameters. In terms of interaction, technical knowledge, skill acquisition, where is the fall in education? Nowadays, students pass ICAN exams as undergraduates. So, I do not believe that there is a fall, but what I believe is that there is a shift in the educational system, to the extent that it is difficult to compare the past standard with present standard.”
He added that there was room for improvement and that the standard in public and private institutions should be compared to know whether or not there was equality.
Transforming the university
On transforming the university, he said: “I met the university at a level, where it needed help. Everything appeared not to be in proper perspective, from students’ accommodation, their welfare, the enrolment, and the staff. They were not too encouraged. I saw it as a big issue to face. I, therefore, carved out what God led me to call 3Es – Enrolment, Enrichment and Engagement.
“We have radically improved the infrastructure. We are about to complete the painting of the male hostel to make it look very good. Maintenance in hostels has been improved. We have constructed more wardrobes, tables and so on. I’m glad because the students I met previously, who said they cannot bring their enemies here, now say that things have changed and that their younger ones would come here.
“Since I came, I have doubled the enrolment and I’m still praying to double it this year. When I came, I discovered that most of the programmes were just pure sciences and some parents may not bother sending their children to faith-based Institutions. So, I started venturing into professional programmes like Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Architecture, Public Health and Anatomy.
“All these make our university to compete favourably with those that started before us. I’m also starting postgraduate programmes in Microbiology, Computer Science and Business Administration.”
His leadership style
Describing the nature of his leadership, he said: “I combine democratic and transactional leadership styles. I try not to be autocratic. I am a pastor and do not want to be autocratic, but I also do not believe in allowing people to misbehave. I want to love and share. So, I’m a bit democratic. But I’m also transactional because I want to take the private school establishment seriously. I put my staff to work and I make my students focus on their academics. This is because, if one is not transactional, one cannot be transformational. And by the grace of God, the spiritual, psychological and academic climates have changed radically, since I came.”
He noted that the institution is planning Faculty of Law and is making significant progress towards that.
“It has also been accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), but we are yet to start. The faculty is one of the best, considering the age of the university,” he said.
He said he already made provision for indoor games for students and restructured the recreational centre to make it more modern. He restated zero-tolerance for indiscipline and immorality.
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“I believe that as a university, students should interact. And that if students try to go against the moral standards of the university, they are ready to face the consequences. I am trying to create a balance, whereby discipline is enforced without eroding the social interaction that ought to be in a university,” he added.
Difficulties in sponsoring children
Addressing the difficulties parents face sponsoring the education of their wards, he noted that “anything parents commit to the education of their children now, is money well-spent.”
He emphasised that most public schools, which enjoy tremendous assistance from the government, have increased their tuition fees more than the private institutions, notwithstanding there is no support from the government to private schools.
His words: “In this faith-based university, where we are not really looking for humongous profit, we just increased the school fees to pursue certain issues. Recently, we have asked students to pay for utilities. If not, there will be darkness in the university. So, we do not increase fees anyhow, but because of the current inflationary trend in the nation. Summarily, education is costly, university education is costly, but more importantly, quality education that students derive from institutions like ours, cannot be denied, and has to be costly.”
His advice to parents
He urged parents to endeavour to enrol their wards into good schools, where they can have the best. He added that the “future of the children must be a priority, not just the money you commit to it now.” When asked about discounts available for prospective students, he confirmed that the discounts are still in place.
Referring to the recent scholarships he granted to 2023 UTME best student, he said: “We did that to celebrate our young lady, Chinyere, who had the best UTME score in the nation, and to attract the Deeper Life High School students, and those from other schools and religions.” time to study the situation, and know where he wants to come in. But if I am to give my own little advice, he should emphasise on quality education across institutions; both private and public.
Agenda for new Minister of Education
On his agenda for the new Minister of Education, he said: “Attention should be given to public primary schools. That particular segment appears to me, as being abandoned, because of the upsurge in private primary schools. I think the minister should ensure that at this foundational level – public primary schools – should not be abandoned in the hands of the proprietors of primary schools. Because eventually, our universities would be fed by people from those schools and that is when people say the standard has fallen.
“There should be comparability in terms of our educational level laterally, when you go to secondary schools and universities. Therefore, the attention of the minister should not be on public schools only, but also on private schools.
“The education minister should also focus well on university education, including the private institutions. They can provide money to assist. We are not saying they should come and build for us, but the students and staff are citizens of the country too, and they qualify to benefit from the national cake.
“The government should give scholarships to students in private institutions. They should be able to sponsor staff for PhD, because there is mobility. A staff in a private school can go to work in public schools, and vice versa. They do not need to build structures for the schools, but they can support research and the education of the students, because when they graduate, they will not go to work in private institutions alone.”
Efforts to attract investors
The VC added: “The staff and students are also cooperating. I’m also not resting. I just came from Abuja. I’m visiting the zones to seek the assistance of those who can help the university. We want to improve our supermarket, start manufacturing bottled water and running bakery. We also want to build massive hostels, and a very fine auditorium. And we cannot do it alone. That is why I was in Abuja to attract investors. Tomorrow, I will go to Port Harcourt. I will also go to the Southwest to attract investors.”
He noted that the institution was also seeking support from people who can give scholarships, endowment and internship. The don urged the government to focus on public primary schools, but must not abandon private institutions, particularly at the university level, as the graduates might end up not working with only private institutions, but also public institutions.
Advice to students
He advised students to face their studies, be morally sound, and fear God. He also advised parents to set good examples for their wards, and be ready to give them quality education.
“I will screen all students on the grounds of academics, drug and pregnancy. I do not want the bad ones to come and corrupt the good ones, and that anyone who is tested positive to drug would be taken to rehabilitation centres, and after certification, return to the campus, where they will be under surveillance for a year.”