STUDENTS' UNREST in EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES and REMEDIES

Frequent cases of students' unrest constitute a virus in the educational system of many countries in the world today. Many educational institutions, particularly at tertiary level now operate the 'open and close' system due incessant closure and opening of the institutions because of students' unrest.

Many factors can be traced to the prevalence of students' unrest in the campuses, which are societal, parents, institution, government based among others. Such factors include the following:

- religious intolerance (i.e. situation where there is (are) conflict (s) between or among the religious groups in campuses or society);

- unemployment of graduates of institutions, which can lead to frustration and reluctance to leave campus due to bleak future;

- ritual killing (s) of student t(s) i.e. when student is used for ritual in the community in which institution is located;

- death of student (s) through careless driving;

- inadequate home training by parents;

- lack of / inadequate infrastructures and facilities in educational institution;

- inadequate vehicle for transportation of students;

- inadequate hostel accommodation for students within campus;

- breakdown in communication between authorities and students;

- students' academic stress;

- too much failures in courses by students;

- banning of students' union activities within campus;

- inadequate health facilities for students;

- connivance of staff of institution to achieve their goal (s);

- selective victimization of staff and students of institution by government;

- interference of government in institution's affairs;

- introduction of obnoxious economic, political and other policies;

- international issues;

- inadequate funding of educational institution by government;

- closure of neighbouring institution; and

- harsh economic situation in the country or society.

The issue of students' unrest is having negative consequences in the society, which include the:

- death of innocent students that could have been useful in the nation in the future;

- damage of valuable properties;

- disruption of academic activities;

- extension of year of graduation of students;

- deteriorating quality of certificates and outputs of educational institutions;

- burden on parents due to additional cost for the extra years on campus;

- falling standard of education;

- increase in social vices like armed robberies. kidnapping, raping, thuggery, prostitution among others;

- increase in examination malpractices;

- attack and molestation of staff and institutions' leaders;

- low image of educational institutions;

The issue of students' unrest can be nipped in the bud if:

- admission into tertiary institution is strictly controlled and based on merit;

- parents and guardians train their children adequately;

- there is regular communication between institution's authorities and students;

- there is provision of more funds for institutions to meet their challenges;

- the private sector assist in the provision of infrastructures and facilities in educational institutions;

- staff of institutions are alive to their responsilities and are morally upright;

- necessary utilities like water and electricity are provided for students in campuses by authorities;

- there is proper accountability in the management of institutions' resources;

- tertiary institutions' authorities are committed and have the interest of students at heart;

- students realize the negative consequences of unrest and turn over a new leaf;

- more jobs are provided for graduates of educational institutions to encourage those that are yet to graduate;

- there is marked improvement in the economy of countries by government;

- there is regular orientation of students and staff in educational institutions, particularly on the need for moral uprightness;

- government stops meddling in institution's affairs;

- reckless driving is checked in the society, particularly within the vicinity of educational institutions; and

- ritual killing is banned in the society