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African Journal of Biomedical Research
Ibadan Biomedical Communications Group
ISSN: 1119-5096
Vol. 6, Num. 3, 2003, pp. 155
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African Journal of Biomedical Research, Vol. 6, No. 3, Sept, 2003, pp. 155
Letter to the Editor
THE SORRY PLIGHT OF THE IVORY TOWER
Akande O. O.
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. Ibadan,
Nigeria.
Code Number: md03060
Dear Editor,
One of the numerous unpleasant regimens of medical practice in the face
of management of an incurable, agonizing morbid condition is mercy killing
at the behest of the patient or his/her next of kin. Little did we realize
in this country that the regimen of euthanasia will be applied to our citadels
of higher learning the universities. It is needless to say that our higher
institutions are mere collating centers where lecturers assemble to collate
and review old publications in the present circumstance to save their face.
The quality of teaching is so skeletal to the extent that lecturers cannot
boast of current magazines, journals, textbooks, etc. for effective teaching/
learning. The laboratories are empty, the premises are unkempt and the teachers
look rugged with their patched dresses.
This ugly situation probably prompted many worn-out lecturers to become
leftists. The research grant, which used to cushion the financial embarrassment
of the academic after spending his/her meager resources, has now become a
fad. A visit to any departmental library is enough to drive my points home.
They are replete with archaic, out-moded texts and journals. The students
themselves have lost hope for the future when the teachers whom they should
emulate are nothing but place-fillers. Some of the students who are privileged
lend their books to their lecturers who cannot afford to purchase any no
matter how small the price is.
This is ridiculous, it is unthinkable to express the least if an academic
is to command respect from his/her students. What knowledge do you wish to
impact or the technique you wish to adopt when a lecturer who is supposed
to have greater and more advanced textbooks in his custody shares a textbook
with his/her student? Who is a learner and who is the learned in this context?
Things have gone down the drain and we are yet to see the exodus of academics
to the land full of milk and honey. An academic can only perform effectively
when he is well informed, well catered for and very comfortable. That is
the reason why you don't find them engaged in social outings, which can disrupt
their teaching I research schedule.
It used to be a matter of honour and respect when people learn that one
is a university teacher because they know the sacrifice and perseverance
it entails let alone the cut-off from the environmental goodies to which
employees are subjected. You can predict the whereabouts of an academic.
He is either in his office or lecture room/laboratory or in the library.
There is no doubt that their families miss them a lot.
A friend of mine applied to her institution for a sponsored workshop on
AIDS; only to be told that her university regretted to inform her that she
could not be sponsored due to the institution's lean purse. Just imagine
that! A university was so poor to sponsor an international workshop. How
on earth do you profess yourself when you have no idea of the current/global
approach to the wide-spread issue like AIDS? Weep not Nigerians.
I salute the courage of the lecturers in the present predicament for letting
the world know their plight and I do believe that the truth shall prevail
no matter crooked and long the journey for academic pursuit takes.
Akande O. O.
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. Ibadan,
Nigeria.
© Ibadan Biomedical Communications Group
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