It’s been almost a three month since students of the University of Jos resumed after staying home for 11 months because of the ASUU strike and the Corona virus pandemic.
It is however surprising that after three-four weeks in school, many students are still struggling to keep their heads above water.
According to many students, it has been really difficult for them to concentrate and participate in school due to many factors. They fear that their academic performances this year would be a disaster because physically they are in school but psychologically and emotionally, they are far from the school environment.
Speaking to one of the students who didn’t want his name mentioned, he said: “I am honestly overwhelmed by everything. Examinations are coming up by the end of March and I can’t even seem to find myself or settle down to study. I am always writing an assignment or a test or having lectures from morning to evening… My mental health is not ready for this!”.
A 300 level student of Sociology, Naima Grace, said she has never had to deal with staying sane in school till now. In her words, “so many things are demanding my attention and I have not been able to get a decent sleep since I resumed. This is my third year in school and I feel like I am paying back for the past years of school treating me nicely”.
Another student Marvellous Adeola, a 200 level student of Computer Science complained, “students are still being crammed up in classes. I thought for the sake of the Coronavirus and the long strike, there would be better arrangements like chairs and tables to make the environment better for us. It’s also hard for many of us to concentrate and be excellent students when our lecturers are trying to shove down everything in our brains. It’s not easy on everyone”.
The story wasn’t different for many other students as they had one complain or the other even though they expressed their gratitude and happiness that school is finally back in session after staying home for so long.
As optimistic as few students are that school will subsequently get less exhausting, they fear that the efforts they are putting in school is being frustrated by the present circumstances.
By Joan Dyiltu
