Indiscriminate Choice of Arts to Science by Some Lazy Students: An Act of Running from Frying Pan to Fire

Indeed the relevance of the Arts related courses cannot be over emphasised. Just like Science and Technology, these areas have succeeded overtime in sustaining their influence to the meaning of human co-existence. Some of these disciplines may include Accountancy, Mass communication, Public Administration and Theatre Arts, to mention but a few. Scholars of these areas have come up with great innovations year in year out - this keeping them within the radius of life. Consequently, every organisation needs them to function.

So whatever might be seen as my argument in this article should not in any way contradict the above assertion. Instead, let it be an analysis subject to criticism. Yes, the reason for the analysis is neither to devalue the importance of the Arts related disciplines nor to win a debate. I leave you to imagine what could have formed my reasons. They are numerous and calls for pity on realisation.

Ok! Having been careful not to neglect the great importance of these disciplines, I humbly wish to x-ray the fact that their relevance have been greatly narrowed or perhaps substituted by the fast growing innovations in the field of Science, Technology and Engineering. I stand to be corrected. Majority of the experts in the supposed areas of the Arts personnel, in most organisations nowadays, are people that finished from Sciences. Examples abound in the banking industry.

In its mission to continuing to better the lives, Technology has indeed rendered the works of the Arts related disciplines so easy to the extent that a non-professional may handle them better. For instance, with the use of suitable software and other sophisticated tools, accounting can perfectly be handled by anybody; the internet has made Mass Communication a World Communication in a split of seconds; and if not for lack of locus standi, the citation of statutory quotes and reference to past similar cases in the law court, could better be done by a non legal professional.

Just before I could go deeper, let me ignite your conscience with the scenario in University admissions. The Nigerian University Commission (NUC) has for long stipulated a ratio of 70:30 for Sciences to Arts related courses in all university admission. Even without this pronouncement, the number of courses available for Arts inclined students is minimal compared to the numerous Science related courses. A case study exists in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, my great alma-mater.

The Lions’ Den boasts of fifteen (15) living faculties for both its Nsukka and Enugu campuses. Apart for the Faculty of Education, which could be Science or Arts, ten (10) of out of the remaining faculties are entirely for Sciences – Agricultural Science, Biological Science, Dentistry, Engineering, Environmental Science, Health Science & Technology, Medical Science, Physical Science, Pharmaceutical Science, and Veterinary Science. It is only four (4) that are for the Arts – Arts, Business Administration, Law, and Social Science. A similar case exists in virtually all other universities in Nigeria and beyond. But do not be quick to conclude that this is why securing admissions is usually a hell for the Arts inclined students. Sorry, thank God for the availability of Colleges of Education though.

In conjunction with the above premises, my fear and pity has always doubled any time I stand in front of the multitude that have ran to Arts. Perhaps majority of them lacked focus and counseling at the early stage, and felt that Sciences are difficult, hence the need to run to where it could be got on a platter of gold. Although both logic and fact may favour the assertion that Sciences are tougher and more demanding than the Arts, little did they realise that the circumstances of running have necessitated more grievous challenges.

Truly, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics might be difficult due to lack of practicals at the early stage and the little thinking required, but permit me to state that Sciences are sweater, easier and more palatable than the Arts. Let this form another topic to avoid digestion please!

Contrary to what should have been the norm, the few available spaces in the universities are never counterbalanced by the exceedingly large number of Arts students in the secondary schools. Research would confirm that for a particular category of students (say class one in the senior secondary), many schools have just one class for the Science students amidst several classes for the Arts people. The experience is more pronounced in the rural areas, with the urban schools also portraying a significant wide margin. Tutorial centres are also not left behind in this ugly scenario.

Again, consider the following statistics of the 2014 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) application, showing the total number of candidates who chose the selected courses for the under listed universities:

Analysis of the above statistics should reveal that majority of the Arts related courses receive far more than the required entries. Certainly none of these departments would admit more than 200 candidates at the end, leaving the rest hopeless. For a better comparison, I have intentionally included some Sciences courses, especially the most widely applied – Medicine & Surgery, in the table above. Not to worry! The large numbers that seek Medicine will at the end have other better options. You may wish to find out that majority of those graduating excellently from Botany, Zoology, Animal Science, Crop Science, Veterinary Medicine, and very many others, initially sort for Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering, or the likes. This is not bad since those disciplines are greatly relevant. It is just lack of orientation and recognition that make students not to consider them at the onset.

Sincerely, you can agree to my pity for the Arts students. They are countless in number, yet NUC stipulates they must be much lesser in university admissions. Also the available courses for them to choose are minimal. And above all, their relevance are about to suffer extinction due to better substitution by the technological advancement.

 All said and done, the Science inclined students, especially those who have love for Mathematics, will hardly be denied admission. Sorry I won’t explain my special reference to Mathematics here. The case is different for my brethren in the Arts. The worst is that some of them who eventually gain admissions, may because it wasn’t easy as they felt, lack the ability to prove their relevance to the society.

Thus, it is my desire to advise students to seek proper counseling about career choices before completing junior secondary education, or even earlier. Parents are to lead this crusade by offering the first hand advice at the early stage, and consulting experts where necessary. Otherwise the phenomenon of running from frying pan to fire shall continue to befall our children. Can you recall that most primary school children, when asked to state their future ambition, would echo Medical Doctors, Engineers, Pilots, Astronomers, etc. It is obvious that running away from Sciences is the sole cause for the sudden change in inspiration. Even the few children who would say they want to be Governors or President never meant it. In fact, Nigeria and the world at large, has more Science trained persons in politics and other administrative positions than those that are graduates of Political Science or Public Administration.

Students should be made to understand that it is never easy on both sides. No area of discipline is easy! An Engineering student would come out of an examination hall, complaining that three hours was not enough for even an open book exam; a Medical student will be very quick to remind you that their pass mark is 50%; and yet a student of Economics will come out lamenting the short time given to analyse the economy of Nigeria even several years before his/her birth. In fact, should it be discovered easy in any discipline, such department will cease from awarding a university degree. Period!