By Ibn Yahweh
The Executive committee, Nnamdi Azikwe Hall, in a bid to help students in their academics organized tutorials for students. However, there’s been a low turn out of students in the tutorial despite the publicity it received. ZHPO explores the reasons for the low turn out of students in the tutorials.
ZHPO reached Fabiyi Caled (Fadaca), the Secretary of the hall and the chairman of the academic committee in charge of organizing tutorials. He had this to say when asked of what prompted the tutorial by the Executive committee, “Well, tutorials organization is a part of the culture of the hall aimed at ensuring academic excellence, most especially for freshers. So, keeping up with the culture is not something that needs a prompt, it is our duty.”
However, Fadaca added that the low turn out of students hasn’t been encouraging despite the publicity invested in it. In his words, “Well, the first semester was just there, we worked very hard to get tutors. But at the end of the day, a very small proportion of Zikites showed up. For the second semester, we are facing the same problem; people are not showing up despite the numerous efforts concentrated on publicity. It’s not encouraging both for us making the efforts and the volunteer tutors who sacrificed their time.
Fadaca cites lack of interest as part of the reasons for the low number of student showing up for tutorials when asked reasons for the low turnout. According to Fadaca, “I can’t say. It might be that they are not interested or they have other means of overcoming their academic challenges.” On what can be done to remedy the anomaly, Fadaca stated that the Executive committee will keep investing efforts in doing what it can for students. In his words, “Well. At this stage, I don’t know what’s left to motivate them with, the semester is fast moving toward the end. All we will do is just still intensify publicity, I have spoken to some of them and it seems they prefer peer-to-peer assistance. Nevertheless, we’ll keep putting in the effort to do what we can do, and whoever wants to take advantage of it will do.”
In addition to the conversation with Fadaca, ZHPO reached out to a number of students to know their views on the tutorials, if they attended or not and reasons. A student of the department of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS)who pleaded anonymity stated the tutorials were a way of helping students in their academics and a good one. In his words, “It’s a good move. A good thing to at least help students in their academics in one way or the other.” When asked if he has been attending the tutorials, he said “No” and citedreasons ranging from clashing classes, tight schedules and even work on weekends to finding a balance. According to him, “….because of my clashing classes, even my weekly schedules like I’m still finding ways to balance it. In addition, he stated that, “You need personal study at times and one thing about tutorials is…you attend. You’ll feel like this part you’re about to treat today, I understand it. This isn’t where I’m having problems…” It’s worthy to note that familiarity with certain courses is a one the reasons students don’t turn up for the tutorials.
ZHPO reached out to another resident of the Nnamdi Azikwe Hall. An undergraduate of the Religious studies department who also pleaded anonymity. He stated he has no problem with the tutorials organized for students when asked for his views on the tutorials. “I really don’t have issues with the tutorials organized by the Executive committee for students.” He said. He further added, “….I just observed that the tutorials are strictly for Science students. I haven’t seen anytime tutorials were organized for Arts students and I’m an Arts students, so I don’t think there’s any reason for me to a tutorial that’s not organized for Arts students.”
