Reps probe delisting of non-agric courses from agro-varsities

The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to investigate plans by the Federal Government to scale down non-agricultural academic programmes from the curriculum of federal universities of agriculture.

While adopting a motion sponsored by Rep. Sam Onuigbo (Abia/PDP) drawing the attention of the House to government’s move, the House mandated its Committee on Tertiary Education to carry out the investigation and report back to the House within two weeks.

Moving the motion, Rep. Onuigbo said that there was the need for the Ministry of Education and that on Agriculture and Rural Development to halt the implementation of the directive pending a comprehensive appraisal of its necessity by stakeholders.

The lawmaker argued that any effort to phase out non-agricultural programmes will distort the efficient running of teaching and learning of the professional core agricultural courses in the universities.

He said that there already exists a kind of symbiotic relationship between the core agricultural and non-agricultural courses, with each programme complementing the delivery of the academic curriculum of the other.

“The world has given rise to the necessity to focus on combining both technological and management skills in agricultural profession to be grounded in science, management techniques and social skills that drive today’s sustainable agricultural economy.

“It is deeply troubling that academic programmes with outstanding records of excellence could be blacklisted for closure simply because they co-existed to enrich agricultural programmes as obtainable globally,’’ Onuigbo added.

He expressed concern that phasing out of the College of Management Sciences in the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (MOUAU), Umudike, Abia State, will have its attendant effects on the students.

He said: “If the implementation of the directive is not halted, the admission trauma of the youths, especially those within the catchment area of the university will be compounded, given the high number of students seeking admission in the densely populated area.”

He emphasised that the haste with which the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) delisted management courses from the ones available on offer by the MOUAU had the consequence of denying admissions to over 2000 prospective candidates.

“This has its deleterious effect on the psyche of the candidates who may as a consequence of idleness, resort to crimes and other anti-social behaviors,” the lawmaker stated.

He further argued that the directive violated the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act and the Federal Universities of Agriculture Act 2010, which provided for a tripodal mandate of teaching, research and extension in agriculture and allied disciplines.