The Senate of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) has officially abolished the collection of course representative dues across all departments.
The decision, which was actually implemented last year but has only recently gained wider attention among students, has sparked mixed reactions on campus. Many students celebrated the move as welcome relief from mandatory payments and financial burdens, while others expressed disappointment, arguing that course representatives deserve compensation for the significant stress and responsibilities they shoulder.
According to the university administration, the role of course representative is intended to be a voluntary position, typically assigned to the best-performing student or second best student in each class. In cases where top performers opt out, any willing and capable student may be appointed as the course rep and he/she would become the course rep by appointment not election.
The Senate reiterated its stance that the position was never meant to become a political office that should be contested for.
The senate highlighted concerns that some course representatives have abused the role by using it to extort fellow students through compulsory levies. The university emphasized that course reps should serve selflessly, without financial obligations from colleagues.
While this sounds like good news to some students, few other students argue that course representatives often go through a lot while sourcing and purchasing textbooks, manuals, and other course materials on behalf of their colleagues and should be fairly compensated for their time, hardwork and expenses.
Despite the backlash, the Senate has issued a firm directive that collection of course representative dues must stop immediately in all department and any continued enforcement of such payments will be considered a violation of university policy. The course rep dues places more financial burden on students as students are already mandated to pay their school fees and departmental fee which both of this fees witnessed an increase in the previous years.
In as much as this directive was given last year, most students are yet to learn about this new development and directives from the school's senate.
Next Media will do well by updating the general public of any new development regarding the abolished course rep dues.
