KillerBeauty:
Some of your points are valid others not so much.
Each country tailor their curriculum to their own needs. We shouldn't compare the years spend in school between countries. The british spend 3 yrs in universities because it suits them while Americans spend 4. Each country have their own reason for doing so.

Your number 3 point, not so valid. Its not called 'jack of all trade' I think the right term is flexibility. The world we live in is very vast and we can't be rigid living in it. That's why the curriculum infuses so many aspect into the university program, students need to know what going on in other areas outside their major courses. Most times these are areas students wouldn't normally look into. Like for example in my year one in school, I did a GST course in science and technology where some engineering principle where explained. I'm an art major with no business in engineering, but my studying of that course broadened my mind.

blank:
@OP, your first year courses are equivalent of A levels. That's why people with pre degrees, A levels come in with direct entry into 2nd year. 4 years is very fair for a degree.

Lero15:
@ killerbeauty, u are making good points too. UK and USA tailor their curriculum to their own needs... Agreed. But are you sure we actually know our own needs or have our reasons? Not sure here. You can spend 4-years in the USA, OK. But it's hard to keep up with that same 4 years in Nigeria, not to mention the level of exposure and advancement.


I think that Jack of all trade is very valid o. I did a 5-year course. I got *exposed* into my department in 300 level. Flexibility is good. GNS, GSE, et al are relevant. Doing All courses for more than a year or every year in the name of flexibility is what is not relevant.

Thanks for your contribution

ednut1:
in uk they do 2 years a level. nd 3 years uni. dats 5 years. Nigeria is allergic to change. make we jst dey look. our syllabus sucks. there arr some courses dat are jst repetition

OlowoB:
I happen to live in the UK currently and I kind of agree with some points of the op. I think the teaching system in Nigeria is flawed and needs to be looked at. Many irrelevant courses are been thought for too long.

I have a cousin who studies Admin and IT here in Glasgow college (similar to a polytechnic) and you need to see the courses been thought as it deals with real life situations that affect them.

Their exams / assessment involves them been giving a case study of an existing real life solution for which they have to find a solution for.

Can the same be said for ND students in naija polytechnics? What is the course content like?

Lero15:
We have so many higher institutions in Nigeria now….and the number increases almost every year. This is good, but studying a course for 4 years and above, especially most non-professional courses is what bothers me. PS: I am not advising or discouraging anyone to go abroad to study.
Here are my reasons:
1. Other countries: Top countries especially in Asia and Europe, even in Africa don’t use up to 4 years for a degree. Within 5 years or less, one can have his first Degree and Masters abroad. Our polytechnics don’t make things easy these days…after OND, one year of industrial attachment (most people now do theirs in their homes…no placement) you still do “post UME” for HND admission in the same school!

2. You may not practice: Now this is rampant in Nigeria…blame it on economic condition, peer pressure, parent’s will over yours and so on. So many undergraduates are studying that particular course because that is what the school “wants” for them. So, their mindset is “let me just finish this course and find better things to do with my life”. I have two medical doctor friends, one has dropped his stethoscope for the financial sector, the other one is practicing but says he will divert soon…AFTER SEVEN YEARS?!!!

3. Jack of all Trade: One of the major reasons why it takes us donkey years to get a degree in Nigeria is this!!! Your first year in school, you do all irrelevant courses. You will probably do your main specialty in your semi-finals or final year. This is a big time-waster. Why not face your course and get better with it. Jack of all trade, master of none.

4. Graduate Trainee Jobs: If you think you are studying a course that is not marketable in Nigeria, don’t worry much. As long as you are young and you have good grades, you will be fine. Big companies, most especially in the financial sector, oil and gas, and foods and manufacturing firms train their new intakes for weeks or months. Your job roles may not be relevant with your course of study, though.
Then why spend 4/5 years when u will still be trained?

5. ALMIGHTY STRIKE : Some courses slated for 4 years will turn to 7 years…no thanks to endless strikes. Chaos in school, government owing lecturers, etc… This is so appalling. Coupled with the fact that you will still serve the nation for a year, that makes it 8. That wouldn’t be nice if you started school in your twenties, would it?

This may sound subjective, but the truth be told. Spending so many years for a course is not a good sign for a developing country like Nigeria. Some lecturers just give you the same old note they used during their tenure in school. If the number of years cannot be altered, then let the educational sector be improved. There is so much “La cram La Pour” in Nigerian schools today.

Seriallinks:


UTME hard pass UK A-Levels abeg! So na still High School things e be!

That's why with 9ja O-Levels you can enroll directly into 1st year in any UK Uni. no need of A-Levels! Most of their BSc and BA courses are last for only 3 years! Only professional courses like BEngr, Medicine, B.Pharm etc last longer!

And there is no strike; same with India and most Asian Countries!

rumomonga:
I spent 8

Idrismusty97:
Except for IJMB people with Predegrees are still admitted into 100lv and most of the time still required by the school to sit for JAMB again. Pre Degree is just a pure waste.

ednut1:
is utme a course ? if u use o levels to enter uk uni. u wud start wit a year foundation before proceeding to d 3 year course

martineverest:
I studied mechanical engineering;sometimes,when i see chemical/computer engineering students offering mechanical drawing or civil eng, studnt offering chemical courses etc,i smh......seriously,our syllabus has to be filtered.

KillerBeauty:
Some of your points are valid others not so much.
Each country tailor their curriculum to their own needs. We shouldn't compare the years spend in school between countries. The british spend 3 yrs in universities because it suits them while Americans spend 4. Each country have their own reason for doing so. I'm an art major with no business in engineering, but my studying of that course broadened my mind.

bqlekan:
you've gat good points OP, buh its a bit too harsh to judge those years as a waste.. our institutions are only preparing us for what to face in the outside world, so i wont call the year one courses irrelevant.. recently, our government scrapped biology as as a general subject, now i have siblings who know nothing bou the way their body works, why they grow hairs on some of their body parts.. m sure you dont want that for graduates out there.. m an industrial chemist and i wont look like a fool in the midst of plant biologists, a zoologists etc.. and yes, m a better by far graduate n i know nothing bou strike..