By Amaechi Agbo, Agbani

Barring last minute change in plans, the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, (ESUT) will embark on a two-month break after the 2023/2024 second semester examinations.

The break which will commence from August 12 will mark the end of 2023/2024 academic calendar. The new academic session, 2024/2025 is expected to start on October 7, 2024.

Speaking on the conclusion of the new academic session, ESUT’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie said the management would continue to ensure that the school calendar is religiously followed to the end.

He noted that adherence to school calendar is a key component of sustaining the mission of the university adding that under his administration, the university will continue to run seamless academic calendars.

Will the university be shutdown during the two months break?

The university’s scribe, Mr Ambrose Ugwu said the long vacation is for students and not staff.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with ESUT Monitor, Chief Ugwu explained that the management has lined up series of activities to equip the staff and train them in order to become more productive and also acquire more skills not necessarily related to their field.

“During the break period, we have lined up several activities. The break is just for the students; the staff will be here. We have series of activities planned. One of them is a training workshop for ESUT members who are retiring between January 2024 and March 2025.

“We are going to have a two or three-day retirement workshop for them. It will help them to know one or two things they can engage with after retirement.

“Additionally, we are going to have staff training that includes both lecturers and non-teaching staff. Immediately the break starts, we will release a schedule detailing how everything will proceed. This workshop and training will be certificated and compulsory for all staff to join. Many departments face challenges with filing, so we need to orient our staff, especially those in clerical roles.

“We are also going to have a retreat with management and the election of the new deans on August 15, 2024. There will be a retreat for all newly elected deans and heads of departments. By then, some directors will be appointed or reappointed, and their retreat will be combined with the elected deans of the faculties in preparation for the first semester and the beginning of a new academic year starting on October 7, 2024,” he said.

The 2023/2024 second semester examinations will start on Monday, July 22nd and end on Thursday, August 8, 2024.