Every academic institution have its unique quality, which is the primary reason behind the reason why students adores a specific institution over another. These unique qualities varies depending on the standard of the academic institution. The tricky part about these unique qualities is that, there are public ones that serves as public identity of the institution, the ones on the institution website that attracts students and then we have the within the walls qualities. The thing about qualities that exist within is that it can only be seen by those who have passed through the institution. You see, when these people talk about this inner qualities of an institution, freshers or outsiders often consider it as an exaggeration or a means of defaming an institution. Just give them a couple of semesters/term, they would have seen enough to tell their own tales about the institution. I guess nothing is more convincing than a first hand experience. I'm sure you already have an idea of the angle I would be taking this narration, it is not about talking about the academic institution I have been through like I'm some kind of public relations officer or some influencer employed to sell out the qualities of an institution to arouse interest, neither would I be defaming any institution. More like share my perspective based on experience and nothing more. Without deviating any further, what are the unique qualities of my school? Well I have been through lot of schools, courtesy of Nigeria cranky educational structure. For the sake of this discussion I would only be picking one and the lucky institution happens to be the institution I acquired my higher national diploma in the field of mass communication.
It is the first Polytechnic in western Nigeria to get accredited for mass communication as a course, if not the entire Nigeria but like I said, this isn't some PR article, so I would leave this discussion for others to drag in the comment section. This specific points has been drilled into our heads from the moment I got admission into the institution, lecturers wouldn't stop ranting about it, like it some kind of institutional national anthem. Which school am I talking about, it is no other than Moshood Abiola Polytechnic {Mapoly} located in the heart of Abeokuta, Ogun State. It is an iconic institution that has survived different regime changes and administration trying to convert it into a university or trying to split it up but it never happened. The institution must have some kind of hot mojo working for it, it walls and grounds are tough skinned.
This school is known for lot of things, especially past issues of cultism but those things are long gone because during my time, I didn't witness any of such rumours about this school. There are definitely gang stuffs but for those that find themselves roaming in wrong places at the wrong time. Speaking of the unique qualities of this distinguished institution, remember when I said this institution is tough skinned, I wasn't referring to the texture and strength of its walls, it was a metaphor. In this context, what I was referring to was the structure of the institution that exist within. If toughness was residing in a specific location, it would definitely be within the confines of this institution. From the admission processing to clearance, it is definitely survival of the fittest. If you are the type with health issues, I would advise you erase the thought of this school from your mind. Bluntly speaking, if you are a fat person, this institution is the perfect remedy you have been searching for. Just a couple of strolls from the school market to admin block and back to your department, believe me you would feel your calories melting like compressed butter. And if you turn out to be among the lucky ones like me, you would end up studying mass communication in this institution, a department that happens to be farthest from the admin block, believe me your calories levels will melt a lot faster in this department.
This is not the juicy part of this institution, the best part is their grading system. People from institutions across Nigeria have testified to how to tough the grading system in this institution is and if you are lucky, you would end up in one of the department having it worst when it comes grading toughness. Just like you might you have guessed, it is the department of mass communication. I don't know which school you are coming from but in this institution, your upper credit would fall around pass or lower credit. It is not easy to attain some specific GP levels in this school most especially my department. For the past 10 years or more, my department has not produced any distinction student. So if you manage to graduate from my school, specifically my department with PASS, without having any C.O, you shouldn't be heartbroken because you are definitely worth upper or distinction in most institution, University included. So many have tried to buy their way through, some might have succeeded but still, all they end up with is with PASS or very-very low lower credit. This institution is built to groom people, boys into men, girls into women. I have heard of statements like C.O is not easy to have, well you haven't been to this institution. I have seen intelligent students acquire at least 3-5 C.O by the end of first semester. This is not the kind of school you write an exam and you leave blank pages, you write and quote the source of your definition or explanation written in your exam Booklet till the patterns of your pen casing appears on your thumb.
It is one of the schools I can attest to the fact that if anyone should manage to graduate from this school, from my department. Even if the person is a quack student, he/she will be ten times better than 80% of quack graduate out there. This school takes the statement "We produce the best" seriously. If there was any soft part of you, by the time you graduate from this institution, you would be as tough as a bull. It is survival of the fittest in every way and the significant reduction of students every semester is an evidence of this. Most people drop out themselves when the carry over acquired becomes too heavy to shoulder. You don't graduate from a school like this just by being brilliant, you will have to add fasting and prayer. If you are still thinking of what the unique quality of my school is at this point, you must have skipped lot of paragraphs up there but no need to rush back and read through it again. I will summarise it for you, this institution!!! is a big pressure cooker, as big as Hilda baci jollof pot.
This write-up was inspired by weekly prompt "What is unique about your school or university culture" in hive student connect community.
Cover image - 𝖣𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗏𝖺 Image Credit - All images used are mine
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