Some students of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) have relived their experience during the 81-day strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP). They spoke to AKINOLA OLUYI (ND II Mass Communication).

Penultimate Tuesday, polytechnics resumed for academic activities, following the suspension of the 81-day industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).

The strike was suspended after the ASUP national leadership led by Dr Chibuzor Asumogba met with the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Education, which intervened on behalf of the Federal Government.

Before beginning the strike, ASUP initially went on a seven-day warning strike to call on the government to implement the 2009 agreement it reached with the teachers to promote technical education and equate degrees issued by polytechnics with those of universities to create a level playing field for products of either institution.

Some schools were about to start semester examinations when ASUP declared an indefinite strike to drive home its demands.

As the strike progressed, students nationwide bemoaned their fate, saying their future was hanging in the balance. Some of them accused the government of insincerity to develop polytechnic education; others chided their lecturers for going on strike because of personal reasons.

When the strike was called off, there was spontaneous jubilation among students, who besieged the social media to relive their experience. Students of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), Kwara State, who were about to start their first semester examination, could not hide their feelings as the campus was re-opened for academic activities. Some of them relived the effects of the strike on their academic engagements and the school calendar, saying it has impacted negatively on the education sector.

Matthew Fabusiwa, ND 1 Mass Communication, said: "The strike caught many of us unprepared but there was nothing we could do than to go home throughout the period. I engaged myself in various activities, especially sport event. Besides, I could not just sit at home, watching my parents going to farm. I joined them. But then, I forgot everything I read for the exam. I will have to start all over."

Amos Adebayo, HND I Computer Science, lamented the strike, saying it would prolong his academic programme. "How could a responsible government allow lecturers to go on strike? It was harrowing period for me especially. Now that we have resumed, I hope both parties have agreed because we will not bear the pain of another strike." he said.

Omoniyi Olagoroye, ND II Business Administration, frowned at the extension of the school timetable. He said: "Unfortunately, the strike started the day we were supposed to start semester exam. I waited in school for about two to three weeks, thinking that the lecturers would call off the strike. But my hope was dashed as the strike prolonged to 81days.

"I had hoped that I would complete my National Diploma programme before next September but as it is now, I am praying to conclude it before next year. The strike has extended the school calendar, which no student is happy about."

Another student, Suleiman Mufutau, ND II Mass Communication, said: "My thought immediately the strike started was to start a small business but I could not achieve the aim because I was always disturbed by the thinking that the strike could be called off any time, which would make me to go back to school."

Meanwhile, the polytechnic lecturers, on Tuesday, held a congress to discuss the suspended strike action and deliberate on the examination. After the congress, a new timetable for the postponed first semester examination was drawn.

On the same day, Students' Union Government (SUG) called congress of students, where the union president, Hameed Omuiyadun, pleaded with his colleagues to be patient on the extended school calendar.

Hameed said though the strike extended the academic calendar, he promised that the union would ensure there would be no more extension. He enjoined the students to finish their registration on time to prevent late registration.