Usually, a teacher-student mentorship is difficult to work. This is because there is a big number of students and a smaller number of teachers in a school, so their in between relationship is just typical. Mentees and mentors have a closer relationship; a mentor usually guides less than 5 people and, thus, there is time for explicit guidance. A mentor should give the appropriate feedback to the students in order to evaluate themselves and correct their mistakes. Furthermore, s/he should involve them in the learning procedure by making them understand the purpose and the benefits of the lesson. A mentor should never give a knowledge but s/he should help students construct it.

Dear Modestus,

A timely topic that has to do with the future of academia and research. I keep receiving messages from students in different parts of the world asking me questions that should have been solved by their supervisors. Unfortunately, some (I hope they are very few) of us are not doing their job of a supervisor properly. It is not about "close relationships", which may be banned by most institutions of higher education for ethical reasons. But it is about the level of commitment to student research. I admit that we have our personal life, courses, research, but some are taking too many courses for pecuniary reasons and even work in more than one institution. This leaves little time for supervisor. It is also unfortunate that sometimes, for scarcity of supervisors, one supervisor may have more that needed students on the back. Worse still, some other supervisors take student research for which they are specialists or equipped to deal with. Result: students seek help elsewhere, which may sometimes be detrimental to the student in case methodologies are not harmonized in various institutions. So, as you see, there are so many factors playing in this seminal issue.

Thanks for bringing in the issue for discussion, and I hope my contribution will be helpful.

Sorry, I meant "for which they are NOT specialists or equipped to deal with."

Dear G. P. Georgiou,

Thank you for your valuable response. I am very glad to know that mentors have close relationship with mentees because a mentor guide few mentees and there is adequate time for interaction, discussion and guidance but teacher-student mentorship is difficult to work because there are many students waiting to see a teacher at almost all time. Thank you for also stating the role of a good mentor.

Regards,

Modestus.

Dear Prof. Zouheir Maalej,

I am very glad to know that you have been encountering what I have seen as a problem in higher institution on a regular basis. Some Students have to abandon their supervisors looking out for you and other professionals online. You made me understand that the issue is beyond student to lecturer relationship but majorly due to tight schedule of academic advisers and supervisors, a good number of lecturers have to do part-time lectures in other institutions to meet up financially.

If lecturers have to engage in other academic work to meet up financially, it means there is a problem. If lecturers are well paid I am sure they will be committed to teaching and research. I have noted your comments and suggestions with delight. This will help build up my report. Thank you so much.

Regards, M.O.

Dear Modestus Okwu,

I think much of mentors both in teaching and reseaching. As I see it, mentors are more organizers of learninng and research experiences and situations than simple trasmitters of ready ready made and established truths. Mentors are to innovative and creative students and true understanding, such as transmitters of ready made truths are to conformist students and rote learning.

Best regards,

Orlando

It depends on the number of students or trainees the mentor has to accompany, to give advice or to give guidence. I there are many than such activities are limited to take care for all conditions of self-activity of the students, to observe the working group or classe and to give advice in single cases if needed.

Thank you very much for your valuable contribution Prof. Orlando M Lourenço.

Regards,

Modestus

Dear Prof. Hein Retter,

Thank you for your insightful information.

Regards,

Modestus.