THE DECLINE OF HAUSA STUDENTS IN OUR HIGHER INSTITUTIONS: IS IT THE
FAULT OF HAUSA LECTURERS – AN UNFAIR CLAIM?
By
Dr. Isah Abdullahi Muhammad
Department of Nigerian Languages, UDUS
Recently, I came across a write-up on the decline of Hausa students in our higher institutions, which placed the entire blame solely on Hausa lecturers. In fact, it claimed that Hausa lecturers are mainly responsible for this decline. Interestingly, some reasons were given to support the claim, such as:
1. Failure to
keep up with modern trends: The write-up alleged that 70 percent of Hausa
lecturers are not keeping up with modern trends. However, no source was
provided for this claim - it was merely an assertion. It also accused them of
focusing too much on language, literature, and culture without engaging in
science and technology relevant to Hausa society. Unknown to the writer, the
decline in student enrollment is not unique to Hausa studies; it affects the
arts in general. Other causes include the proliferation of universities, the
rise of other higher institutions, and insecurity. Linking science and
technology with language studies requires serious financial investment - who
should bear this responsibility? The government, or a poorly paid lecturer?
What exactly do you mean here? It is rare to find Hausa lecturers publishing in
English or Arabic. Writing in another language merely promotes that language,
which is why writing in Hausa is encouraged, except where there is a special
need otherwise. As for the accusation that they reject new ideas - if this is
true, then please cite an example.
2. Inability to
use modern tools: The claim was made that 90 percent of Hausa lecturers (again,
without any source for this statistic) do not know how to operate the gadgets
in the “language laboratory.” Let me ask you a simple question: how many times
has university management organized workshops to train lecturers on the
effective use of those laboratories? And yet, you still blame the lecturers.
That is unjust. Perhaps only those who studied abroad would have such
experience - not those trained here in Nigeria, where education has long been
neglected.
3. Yes, here I
agree with you; elders are to be blamed in this regard.
4. I really
commend you for encouraging and motivating students to study Hausa. Some are
doing it even better than you, though they may not publicize it as openly. You
claimed that 65 percent are not doing so, but I wonder how you arrived at this
figure. Dr., I am not condemning your opinion; I am simply pointing out where
your argument is flawed. I am not exonerating or defending anyone either. The
bitter truth is that the decline of Hausa studies is a collective
responsibility. Our leaders, lecturers, and indeed the Hausa people themselves
all have a role to play. Therefore, it is not true that Hausa lecturers alone
are responsible for the decline of Hausa students.
Dr. Isah
Abdullahi Muhammad
Department of
Nigerian Languages, UDUS
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