Johnstone Kpilaakaa Start here: On Monday, the Jos University Dental Students’ Association (JUDENSA) took to the streets to protest the lack of accreditation and shortage of dental faculty in the university. This was after the students claimed that they had exhausted every channel of communication, and needed answers especially now that the revised graduation date of the pioneer class is drawing near.
Addressing the protesting students, the University of Jos (UNIJOS)’s vice chancellor Ishaya Tanko assured that the management has been working tirelessly to ensure the accreditation, hiring of faculty and timely graduation of the students. Tanko also said that the management has previously met with the parents and students of the pioneer class and has discussed how to salvage the situation.
However, he announced that the management would hold another meeting with the executives of JUDENSA.
What now? Six solutions emerged from Tuesday’s meeting between JUDENSA and UNIJOS management. A final decision will be announced next Wednesday, April 24.
The most pressing issue, advocated for by the dental students, appears to have been addressed: merging the nine students of the pioneer dental class with the graduating MBBS class of 2022 (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery). Additionally, the meeting proposed merging the 1st and 2nd dental classes with their MBBS counterparts.
Another resolution tackles the previously reported issue of “sporadic” lectures. The 3rd and 4th dental classes will receive continuous, uninterrupted lectures to compensate for the past disruptions.
Finally, the university will invite the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to begin the accreditation process in June.
JUDENSA has also agreed to halt all protests pending the university’s final decision.
“I wish to thank the school management for their kind response towards our cry…[We] hope that [the resolutions will be] made a reality…,” Micheal Agbaseni, JUDENSA’s president said in a statement on Wednesday.
Know more: Nine years later, lack of accreditation and faculty leaves UNIJOS dentistry programme in limbo
