At Lens Polytechnic Offa, students are increasingly expressing frustration over what they describe as a stressful and rigid registration process. During a recent visit to the institution, The Nigeria Education News team observed a tense atmosphere around the administrative buildings where students had gathered, waiting in line to complete various registration procedures. While many students were reluctant to speak openly out of fear of victimisation, some offered anonymous insights into the difficulties they face.
One ND II student, a young man who pleaded anonymity, revealed that the registration hurdles are becoming unbearable. “I’m tired of this school stress,” he said. “They always ask us to come back to stamp one document or the other, like we’re kids who don’t have other things to do.” According to him, this repetitive process consumes time and energy and often interferes with academic focus.
Several other students also complained about the lack of a digitalized system for examination registration. One of them explained that having to physically submit and resubmit paperwork, often in multiple locations, adds unnecessary hardship to an already demanding academic routine. “This is 2025,” she said. “Other schools are doing e-registration. Why can’t our school do the same and save us from all this running around?”
The process, as described by the students, includes multiple layers of approval and stamping at different offices across the school. From department heads to bursary units, every document must be physically validated, a process that often causes delays and confusion. Students say it also puts pressure on those who do not live on campus, forcing them to make repeated trips back to the school.
Beyond the logistics, students also lamented the attitude of some administrative staff. A few who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that staff sometimes act impatiently or harshly, especially when students make mistakes on their forms. “Some of them talk to us anyhow, and if you react, they say you’re being rude. It’s frustrating,” said one HND student.
The frustration is not just about the process itself but the larger impact on students’ mental and academic wellbeing. Many say the fear of missing registration deadlines due to the long and cumbersome procedures adds to their stress. “We are not against following due process, but let it be less frustrating,” said another student.
While the school management has yet to release any official statement or plan to reform the system, students are hopeful that their voices will eventually be heard. “We want a solution, not punishment,” said one of the more vocal students. “Let them make registration easier so we can concentrate on our studies.”
Calls are growing within the student body for a transition to a digital or hybrid registration platform that reduces physical movement and bottlenecks. Many believe such reforms will not only improve efficiency but also foster a healthier relationship between the administration and students.
Until then, the process remains a dreaded part of the academic experience for many students at Lens Polytechnic Offa. As one ND I student put it, “It’s not just the lectures that are tough—it’s surviving the system that takes the real strength.”
