IN an attempt to explore a new dispute management process in tertiary institutions to sustain peace and avoid conflict, experts have recommended that an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) technique be adopted as part of college curriculum and management style.The focus of the three days forum held at the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija ' Epe, Lagos State with experts drawn from the legal profession is to instill in the management staff and core academics of the institution ways to access the new dispute management mechanisms in tertiary institutions for peace and progressDirector, Lagos State Multi-Door Court House (LMDC), Igbosere, Lagos, Mrs. Caroline Etuk told participants that the collaborative problem solving approaches expounded in the ADR techniques are the best in resolving crisis.In her keynote address titled 'Designing A Whole Institution Dispute Resolution System, the LMDC Model she pointed out that the benefits of ADR when applied to tertiary institutions, would lead to enhanced students' social and emotional development, promote a culture of peace and enhanced communication.She also noted that the techniques, when applied, would be beneficial in providing a platform and atmosphere for dialogue while also creating an environment that is conducive for learning.She suggested that the new dispute resolution techniques be adopted as part of college curriculum and management style adding that the skills used in mediation are mostly learned experimentally and that they often applied to different situations.The LMDC boss was positive that students exposed to ADR technology learn hands on, become active listeners, they are schooled in conflict styles, anger management, conflict escalation and de-escalation, perspective taking, win-win problem solving, negotiation and mediation.Etuk submitted that by mirroring, the students had the golden opportunity to observe adult behavioural patterns and conflict resolution techniques.According to her, the application of ADR techniques in school system would additionally foster the infusion of conflict resolution skills at the classroom, school-wide levels and engender interactions with parents.'The dire consequence of neglecting dispute resolution education is to pass the problem to the larger society. All tertiary institutions need to urgently start on-campus mediation programmes and advocated university-wide grievance and dispute systems designs like the ombudsman,' Etuk warned.She also urged that institutions are expected to implement a peer mediation programme, begin conflict resolution and teacher education. ' Tertiary institutions are advised to train in-house experts whose roles must include the development of pracademics ' academics on campus, teaching, researching and publishing as experts in conflict resolution'.Etuk advised that the experts should be part of the academic culture which create the conflict they seek to help solve, or shape into a constructive force for change and are called upon to participate in dispute resolution in order to serve the academic community, test their theories and skills and obtain support from administrators.As a way of installing peace in tertiary institutions, she advocated for the establishment of a working group on conflict resolution education to liaise with academic institutions, states and the Federal Government to design and deploy conflict resolution models.Also speaking, the Acting Director, Office of Public Defenders, Lagos State, Mrs. Adeyemi Adenrera, said the system would assist conflicting parties come to a resolution for their dispute without going through the court process.'ADR, however, is not mutually exclusive of litigation. It may be used before parties begin legal proceedings or during legal proceedings and because of high cost and prolonged waiting time in the court system, ADR had been gaining popularity in recent times' she said.The drawbacks, according to her include the non-vindication since the aggrieved party may think he could procure better justice elsewhere ' and where mutual distrust is prevalent, the resolution brokered may not stand. Additionally, the enforcement of ADR agreement depends on the co-operation of the one at the receiving end otherwise, the innocent party may have to seek enforcement elsewhere, probably through the time consuming court processes'.In his lecture on ' The Mediating Disputes: Best Practices' the Registrar, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Otto/Ijanikin, Lagos, Mr. Bola Disu spoke on the ethical practices of mediation, Quality and competence of mediator-arbitrator, service and operation, fairness and impartiality.He also led the session with practical skills on how negotiation and mediation could be brokered.Part of the resolution reached by the participants include the creation of an identifiable dispute resolution system (DRS), recruitment of a consultant to assess the existing dispute resolution.
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