The Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Modupe Mujota, has revealed that the lecturers of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) are punishing students and have picked the wrong battle.
She made this remark when fielding questions from members of the State House Committee on Finance and Appropriation presiding over the budget defence at the House of Assembly complex on Friday.
Mujota opined that request tabled by Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, MAPOLY Chapter that admission of students be allowed into either MAPOLY or Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia is unsubstantial.
Mujota claimed that it was not the business of the lecturers to decide on admission, claiming that the strike is de-marketing the school in the admission market.
Her words, "They are insisting that admission must commence either at Ipokia or Mapoly for OND, and we are saying it’s not your problem, your problem was the HND which have been addressed.
“The lecturers delaying the start of the examination is de-marketing the school themselves because those who are to be applying for the HND programme both full time and part time are going to be second-guessing themselves, that why should I apply for a school that is yet to write their examination?"
Meanwhile, she explained that the ministry was always open for communication with the institution, noting that she had on different occasion met with various groups from the institution.
"I have played host to different teams from Academic staff to the non-academic staff union of the school. We have explained and articulated what the thinking of the administration was and the fact that we are not going back on Ipokia."
She denounced the lecturers unyielding attitude, asserting that “the joy of every lecturer is to see their their students pass exams and go on to do well in their future endeavours, but the lecturers of MAPOLY are killing what should be their joy.
She also accused the lecturers of being mischievous in their handling of the whole issue, claiming that their refusal to submit examination questions even before the strike could attract some punitive measures from the government.
"We could decide to go hard on them because their action was a violation of calendar, they should have submitted their questions way before they started their strike, there is a bit of mischief in their handling of the matter."
When questioned on the unpaid salary of the lecturers, she said, "I don’t know where you pay people that don’t work."
Mujota did state that Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s stance that all students of MAPOLY would finish their programme in MAPOLY is still valid, noting that the lecturers also have four years to formalize their decision on whether to go to Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia which they have been assured of free passage or vie for positions based on their qualifications at Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology (MAUSTECH).
Source... Press club Mapoly.