Late resumption to school is one of the major problems that have plagued many schools as it has now become fashionable and a norm among the students of Moshood Abiola polytechnic to resume late to school. Even though the school has released its academic calendar for the semester, students still find it pretty difficult to resume. This explains why the school is still deserted.
It has been over three weeks now that school has resumed and the students are yet to resume. Every nook and cranny of the school is deserted as students are yet to resume.
Late resumption has been a major challenge facing the school as the students now have their own time of resumption as against the school.
The issue of late resumption can be attributed to various reasons which are discussed below
It is undeniable that we still have some students who sponsor themselves to school and in trying to make ends meet, they need to engage in some menial jobs to pay their school fees, house rent, textbooks fee, and feeding allowances. While those who rely on their parents will have to wait until their parents make provision for their needs before coming to school, this sometimes causes a delay in resumption for some students.
This is not trying to justify the nonchalant and lazy attitude of some of them who have nothing serious to do at home, but they prefer to wait until their preferred time of resumption. All these put together drag academic activities into the mud.
Another notable reason for the delay is the inconsistency of the lecturers in coming to class to teach the students. When students notice that lecturers hardly come to class regularly, they see no reason to resume early. When lecturers come to class regularly, irrespective of the number of students in class, it will encourage some of the students to resume early. It has been observed that students wait till when lectures have fully commenced before coming to school.
It is worth noting that high levels of academic stress encountered by students also prevent many of them from resuming at the expected time. It is believed that after going through the hustle and bustle of school stress, the students need some time to relax and prepare themselves ahead for the task in second semester.
The lack of strict penalties against late resumption in school could also be a factor. When they are no strict laws to regulate students’ late resumption to school, it gives recalcitrant students the privilege to do as they like.
However, there are ways in which students can be spurred to resume early. One of the scariest things for students is lecture attendance. If the lecture begins with only ten students in the class and attendance is strictly taken, there is a possibility that the students will be left with no other option but to rush with a high influx to school in the next few days.
When students know the implications of late resumption on their academic performance, they won’t hesitate to resume early.
Part of the consequences of late resumption is a hindrance to academics and the poor performance of students. This is often the case as second semesters are usually short and accompanied by lots of activities, giving room for the inability of lecturers to complete the syllabus, but when students resume early enough and the lecture commences almost immediately, it allows for completion of the syllabus and stimulates the effective performance of students.
The school only has nine weeks for lectures this semester and three weeks have gone without achieving anything. If lectures fail to start at the right time. It is either the management shifts the exam period, or students dabble into examination without receiving adequate lectures, which the two sides do not favor the students as the former might lead to academic devastation.
Moreover, students should be aware that resuming school early is in their interest as it gives them enough time to prepare ahead for examinations.
Besides, the management should endeavor to play their part by ensuring that students see the reasons to resume early and not otherwise because when timetables are released at the expected and appropriate time, it will further encourage students to show up at school.
Also, the attitude of lecturers to lecture matters a lot, lecturers should endeavor to come to class to teach, irrespective of the number, and take attendance, this will also encourage the students to resume.
Students who resume early should be made to see the impact of their early resumption while recalcitrant students who fail to meet up with 75% attendance should be sanctioned to serve as a detriment to others.
On a final note, When the school authorities and the students play their parts, late resumption will be nipped in the bud.
