The absence of moral values on the part of students and parental care are part of what is responsible for bullying in schools across the country recently.
The Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Prof. Ademola Tayo, said this recently at a get together the university had with some journalists in the school campus.
Making observation regarding unfolding negative developments in some schools in recent times, Prof Tayo noted that moral values are taking flights from the schools due to moral decadence in the society generally and lack of parental çare.
Speaking specifically on the incident that happened at Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, resulting to the death of a 12-year-old student of the College, Sylvester Oromoni, the Vice Chancellor lamented the boy’s death, but advocated that adequate security measures should be put in place to check students with deviant behaviours.
Prof Tayo also condemned the reports of students beating their teachers to death as well as students torturing their mates to deaths too.
He said: “Gone are the days you run away when you see your teachers but today, teachers are the ones running and being beaten by their learners. This is because our value system has gone upside down and this is the time to put value to everything we do in this country.
“As journalists, you need to emphasis value above money in your reports. I get enrage when we don’t celebrate those with brains and this is where your voice is needed.”
The Vice Chancellor submitted that to avoid such ugly incidents in their university, the authorities established the Department of Security supritendents by a Ph.D. holder to curtail deviant behaviours of the students, adding there is a chaplaincy unit of the university that address the spiritual and moral wellbeing of the students.
Speaking on funding of tertiary institutions to guarantee quality education, Prof Tayo called for a review of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND to give allowance for private universities to benefit from its funds.
He said: “It is only when TETFund law is amended to accommodate private universities that we will be able to access it, and personally TETFUND should support grants for researches and human capital development in private universities in the country.”
Discussing the increment of fees in Babcock University recently, the Vice Chancellor said the development was as a result of skyrocketing prices of goods, foodstuff and other essential services, noting that the University was not ready to compromise its high standard, despite financial challenges posed by the present inflation in the economy.
“We have highly respected emeritus professors and other professors and we have to pay them good salary to retain them in the university to sustain the high standard for the students to continue to get quality education. Our products are testimonies of quality education as reflected in various laurels won by the undergraduates.”
According to him, laurels are won by their students who participated in both national and international competitions to reflect the sound academic structure put in place for students to excel.
Asked about research development in the University, the Vice Chancellor noted that though it cost so much to embark on successful research, he said that the school did not in anyway relaxe in embarking on researches.
He called on tertiary institutions, especially public schools, not to always be in cap in hands but look inward on how to generate funds to complement what is provided by the authorities for effective running of the school.
Prof Tayo made specific examples to what Babcock University is doing to raise money apart from the tuitions paid by the students, to enable the management run the school effectively.
He expressed his appreciations and that of the school management for the media in partnering with the school positively. Calling on journalists to always verify their facts and not engage in corrupt practices, Prof Tayo said the school’s doors are open for any form of engagement by the media to ensure a successful running of their university.
