“I Can’t Remember What I Was Taught in 100 Level”-The Era of La Cram La Pour
By Sanni Juliet Oluwadarapupo
The history of western education can be traced back to when civilization crawled into the land of Nigeria. The British colonists came to Africa with the dual intent of colonizing the people and spreading the gospel. Alongside their missionary work, they also came along with the intent to spread western knowledge and values through western education. As the grip of the British missionaries kept growing, Western education became increasingly sought after by both sexes, male and female. Education was seen as a powerful tool utilized by the African man to resist colonial oppression.
The educational pattern in Nigerian follows a 6-3-3-4 pattern, which consists of an Individual spending 6 years in Primary school, 3 years in Junior Secondary School, 3 years in Senior Secondary School and 4 years in Tertiary Institutions (The last one may vary depending on the course of study). The pattern still follows and lives on in the present Nigeria we are today.
As earlier stated, University of Ibadan operates under the 6-3-3–4 pattern which means that a student at the university has an average of 4 years to study whatever course he/she desires to study. But, there are other courses whose years of study can take up to 6 years and since it is a federal school, you could add a year or two as a result of strike or other disruptions.
University of Ibadan has evolved over the years ever since its inception in 1948. This evolution can be seen in the introduction of new courses, new departments, new faculties, construction of new buildings, the change in Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) from a 7 point to a 4 point and now a 5 point and the change of the semester calendar, from a 16 weeks semester calendar to a 13 weeks and now to 11 weeks semester calendar. The University of Ibadan is well recognised for raising the best of its kinds, regarded as the first and best, the name continues to endure, solidifying itself as a beacon of academic excellence. But then, there seems to be a vagueness, a decline in education, as most people tend to read only for the sake of passing.
I can’t recall most of the things I was taught in 200 Level- A Uite
The academic calendar at the University of Ibadan is one that needs to be evaluated. According to the words of Aristotle, he said, Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. But what can be said of that today. The 11 week academic semester at UI questions if the validity of those words is being reflected in this generation.
In an interview with Dara, a 200 Level student, she highlighted how she can’t remember most of the courses she did in 100 level, “Well as for me, I can’t remember most of the things I was taught in 100 level”. Unfortunately, this case is not only unique to Dara alone but with most Uites. This now brings us to question the effectiveness of the learning system.
Are we witnessing a decline in effective learning as a new culture of cramming, where La cram La Pour, becomes the new approach to learning? The press reached out to some students to get their view on why most students tend to forget what they’ve been taught. Timilehin, a student from the Faculty of Education shared her insights. While acknowledging that her new level is building on previously learnt materials, she also highlighted how delayed allocation to hostels can affect a student’s learning. “How do you expect a student who is still battling with accommodation in 5th to 6th week to balance up with the academic calendar of 11 weeks in 5 weeks when he/she gets settled in the 6th week”.
The accommodation conundrum is an important issue amongst Uites. Most students don’t get settled in on time, which affects not only their mental health but also other aspects of their lives and their education is no exemption to this. While still trying to get a place to live at 6th week or at most 7th week, the lectures still continue. This leaves us to wonder how one can prepare for an 11 week semester with only 4-5 weeks remaining?
While still battling for a place to live, the lecture hours are also another factor to consider. The lecture hours for students differ, depending on the department, timetable and lecturers. The school hours which run from Monday to Friday require some students to be on campus as early as 8 am in the morning to as late as 5 pm in the evening. Friday is not even enough in some departments as some still schedule class for weekends. Bukky, a student from the Faculty of Art, voiced how she had a class on Saturday, with the lecturer releasing a material of over 200 slides, “I had a class on Saturday which was scheduled for 2 pm and the lecturer’s material is over 200 per topic.”
The question that arises from this is, Where is the time? Where is the time to rest, where is the time to cook, where is the time to carry out other tasks/activities and where is the time to read and assimilate? This and many more are the questions that pile up in the mind of an average Uite. A class that ends by 6 pm in the evening leaves students with limited time to do other things and even focus on their studies. A student’s life is multifaceted. Entering into the university setting, serves as an opportunity to equip one in such a way to handle the challenges of the outside world. But with this, how will students be able to explore other aspects of life?
Speaking with the Press, Treasure voiced out how everything still boils down to the students. She stressed how students tend to be occupied with a lot of things which limits their time to focus on their studies.“The reason why most students tend to forget most of the things they have been taught is because we don’t re-visit them. I won’t totally blame the school for this, I will still blame the students. Even though we have a short academic calendar, we all have other things we are engaged in. Some might be engaged in church activities or business. Some still complain how school activities take their business away from them. Even if they elongate the academic calendar, some students will use that time to focus on other things.”
The academic calendar is one topic that cannot be exhausted. Its discussion still continues to be an issue of concern amongst Uites. A lot of factors have to be reevaluated to aid effective learning amongst students. For instance, the issue of hostel allocations has to be sorted out in order for students to be settled in for the session on time, the lecture hours too also has to be reviewed, allowing for adequate break during classes and to prevent educational fatigue resulting from prolonged hours. Weekend classes have to be looked into and acted upon, restricting weekend classes gives room for students to recharge and have time for other activities.
Just like Treasure said, everything boils down to the students, it is essential for students to make conscious efforts to revisit past materials. As someone once said, you don’t really learn something until you have revisited it over and over again.
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