EDUCATION: Enhancing students well-being and learning at the University of Abuja

Nestled in the vibrant heart of Nigeria's capital, the University of Abuja serves as a beacon of hope and opportunity within the country's education landscape. At the core of this academic institution lies the often overlooked yet fundamental cornerstone of its mission - the academic calendar.

This calendar plays a pivotal role in maintaining the momentum of education, guiding both students and faculty through their educational journey. As the university continues to evolve, it's crucial not to underestimate the profound impact of the academic calendar on shaping the futures of all those who pass through its halls. However, it's essential to acknowledge that the students frequently bear the brunt of its shortcomings, resulting in various adverse consequences.

These adverse consequences experienced by the students include:

1. Delayed and Inaccurate Results: The anticipation for result publication can be incredibly stressful for students. Regrettably, upon release, some results are either missing or contain errors, leading to students frantically seeking resolution from lecturers, exam officers, or department heads. This process consumes valuable study and rest time, causing frustration.

2. Academic Stress: Students often grapple with limited time for reading, understanding, and conducting research. Noticeably, only a few students engage in extracurricular activities or participate in various school bodies due to the relentless pursuit of academic excellence.

3. Brain Drain and Knowledge Gap: A substantial portion of students, approximately 45%, experiences academic exhaustion as they struggle to cover the extensive curriculum within a short semester timeframe. In their haste, students may grasp concepts superficially, hindering their ability to connect ideas, apply knowledge effectively, and critically analyze subjects. This results in producing graduates with incomplete knowledge and diminishes the quality of education.

4. Lack of Academic Interest: The rigorous pace of the academic calendar often leads students to merely go through the motions, lacking genuine fulfillment in their educational journey. Many students perceive non-academic activities as a waste of time, which can negatively impact their holistic development.

5. Limited Socialization: The university's socialization environment has deteriorated significantly, fostering animosity among students, depression, and an unsuitable learning atmosphere. Socialization is pivotal for effective communication, mutual understanding, and motivation for deep learning and academic pursuit.

I advocate for a comprehensive, well-structured academic calendar that offers a more reasonable timeline for coursework, examinations, result publication, and student socialization. It should also include adequate breaks for students to recharge and prepare for new semesters or sessions. This restructured calendar should prioritize both educational quality and student well-being, striking a delicate balance to nurture academic achievement and holistic development.

Moreover, improving the result processing system and ensuring accurate result publication could motivate students to take a more active interest in their academics.

This article encapsulates the concerns and recommendations, and we remain hopeful that the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja will seriously consider these suggestions, ultimately leading to a significant enhancement of the educational experience for all students.