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Over the past few weeks, our universities have been in a state of paralysis on account of a work stoppage by non-academic staff at these seats of higher learning. Apparently, no progress, worth speaking of, has been made in efforts to resolve the issues at the heart of the strike and the majority of particularly undergraduates are languishing at home. The question is, for how long more would this most sorry state perpetuate itself.
We urge the authorities concerned to lose no time in resolving this strike which is holding-up academic activities at universities and doing considerable harm to the morale of students. Apparently, the gravity of the situation is yet to be realized by the authorities as well as the strikers. If this was not so, the work stoppage would not have continued for so long. We urge the parties concerned to come out of this negative mindset. The strike must be resolved once and for all.
We are obliged to point out to the authorities that strikes of this kind cannot be allowed to drag on indefinitely. There needs to be a culture of consultation. The parties to a problem need to talk to each other with an acute sense of urgency and ensure that the issue is resolved in double quick time. This does not seem to be the case in this country and issues in the Higher Education sphere in particular are tending to be relegated to the back-burner of unimportant things. This is a very sad state of affairs which is crying out to be rectified.
It is very unfortunate that those wielding the strike weapon usually cast aside any thought of the national interest and focus obsessively and exclusively on short term gain. Whatever the provocation to strike, the national interest should not be lost sight of. Young lives cannot be allowed to be affected adversely merely because the education authorities give the impression that they are not particularly interested in ending these strikes in a hurry.
While the authorities should galvanize themselves into addressing the issues at the centre of strikes, and seek an early end to them, the strikers must ponder on the more harmful consequences of their actions. The latter would do well to remain constructively engaged with the state, rather than be at the barricades in paroxysms of anger, which, in all probability, would only prolong their confrontation with the state and prove futile in terms of winning any demands.
Education and Higher Education are as vital as those sections which are usually regarded as essential services. If the education sector is not being viewed by some in this light, it is most unfortunate. The harmful results of strikes in the education sector may not take concrete, tangible form immediately but there is no denying that paralysis in the sphere of Higher Education in particular translates finally into material losses which could undermine the national interest gravely. For instance, if personnel essential for the functioning of the national economy, such as, medical doctors, engineers, Civil Servants and lawyers, do not pass out of universities in time, it should be plain to see that the national interest would be harmed.
Therefore, there is no denying that strikes exact a heavy toll, regardless of the sector in which they occur. It is important that confrontational approaches are avoided in these situations and rational answers found to the issues on the table in a constructive spirit. Over and above all, it must be realized that the lives of the young are being seriously affected by these strikes in the education sector. If the non-academic staff of universities has issues with the state, then, they need to resolve these matters with state and in no way subject the students to any hardships.
We take this opportunity to call on disaffected sections of our universities academic staff too to think long and deep before resorting to strike action. No doubt, they may be having issues but the students, who are their wards, should not be put through any hardships and heart-burn for no fault of the latter. To be considered are the grave consequences of such strike action which could spell national ruin.
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