WE DONT NEED EDUCATION AS IT IS - Episode #1

The misplaced priority in our Educational System

I wonder often times that we have schools here, schools there, schools everywhere, yet knowledge seems not to be advancing. More individuals are acquiring degrees at Bachelor, Masters and PhD levels but wisdom is not being advanced. People now graduate with better grades than it used to be in time past but cannot get good jobs. More primary schools, more colleges and high schools, more polytechnics, more universities, more coaching centers, more instructional materials (audios and visuals), more books in prints, yet, what is happening to knowledge? The question we must all answer.

The number of people schooling have drastically increased over the past few decades which have also necessitated the creation or establishment of more schools with facilities believed would enhance learning processes.

THE STRESS IN ACQUIRING DEGREES IN NIGERIA

We know that schooling especially in universities is herculean in some countries of which Nigeria is at the forefront. Considering Nigeria educational system of 6 x 6 x 4 or 5 or 6 in which one would spend 6 years acquiring primary education, another 6 years for secondary education and 4,5,6 years for tertiary education depending on the discipline; have been to greater extent a misplacement of priority. On average it takes about 16years to become a degree holder which is believed to present one to the labour market, considering strike and other academic impediments to be friendly.

Source here

For an individual that is from an average income earning family or low income family, getting certificates seems impossible. Going through the stress of studying under unfavourable and disadvantageous environment where getting admission into universities is jabbing although they called it JAMB/UTME (Joint Admission and Matriculation Board/ Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination); getting tuition is like going through hell, doing assignment and attending lectures are very burdensome owing to schools and lecturing demands.

The most disheartening aspect of this is no job after going through this suicidal mission of getting the degrees. Despite, many will not stop at Bachelor but will proceed to Masters and eventually Doctorate in a view to enhancing their standard of living.

It is no doubt that the numbers of individuals with Masters and PhD over the years have increased greatly. There is this question I keep asking myself, why do people spend the money they don't have, to obtain the degree they don't need, that they may secure a job that is not available? .

I had an interaction with a friend who wanted going for Masters and I asked why do you want to go for MSc? What do you want to with it? And the funny answer he gave was that his friends are going for masters, so he too should. That in absence of job, he need go back to school so as not to sit down at home. Can't you think of something profitable to do while at home instead of going to spend the money you dont have to obtain the degree you dont need in expectation of the job that is not available? This changed his whole idea of education.

We all are in pursuit of formal education forgetting there is self education which is more important. I can give dossier of people in my environment that have no Formal Education but are today reputable and respected individuals in the society. Example is a man by name Tope who is a mechanic that fixes cars. He is often referred to as Engineer by everyone. He is good at his job, known for it and leading a good life. It took me time to know he doesnt have a formal education.

Another example is Shina, my mate in primary school. He struggled to finish primary school, afterward he could not continue with secondary education. Then he turned an apprentice under a bricklayer whom people call engineer (even without formal education). After 3 years of apprenticeship, Shina gained freedom, started labouring with his hand as a mason. Today, he owns a bungalow where he is living with another 3 bedrooms flat which he let.

Few years ago, I met Shina, he has transformed greatly without formal education. His life and standard of living have been enhanced. A thought therefore dawned within me that why did I opted out of the same brick layering work I started some years back after my secondary education? I thought if I have continued, maybe my life would have been enhanced. I almost condemned the years I spent in pursuit of degree.

Some months ago, I met a friend, a First Class Business Administration graduate from Malaysia who is doing nothing. I remembered immediately when he answered I am looking up to God for employment the sacrifice the parent made to ensure he got that degree. The parents took loan which gave them a tough time to repay. He has the degree but cannot make a living with it.

More so, when I went for my Masters screening, surprisingly, there was this young pretty lady in her twenties looking confused. We were told to come with our Research Intent in PPT (PowerPoint). She doesnt know the meaning of PPT, she therefore came with printed copies of MS Word document for her research proposal. She became discouraged when she saw others with laptops and those without laptop with flash drives.

She asked the question, are we supposed to come with a flash drive or laptop. I gave her the answer, how do you intend to bring PPT without either? She answered what is PPT. I was stunted that she knew not. I told her the meaning, she answered I better be going home then. I asked her what are you doing here if you are going home now, she replied her father want her to get master at all cost. She told me she love business and not interested in doing masters and that she managed all through her Bachelor. The father would not listen to her, he want her to have a master degree. The father considers sitting at home something bad and as such she should go for her masters instead of sitting down at home.

On average, to earn a master degree in Nigeria would cost not a dime less two hundred and fifty thousand naira (#250,000.00). What if the father is to support her with the same amount to start a business instead of masters?

5 years ago, some times October, 2012, Dangote Cement company received 13,000 applications for an opening of 100 truck drivers. Of these numbers are 6 PhD, 704 Masters and 8,460 Bachelor degree holders all from reputable universities in Nigeria. The annoying aspect is that the opening does not require a degree but just a driving knowledge.

This kept me thinking about our educational system, what then is the place of this education we are acquiring? It is a slap on the face of education that people turn to education for an enhance life, instead they are getting something else. Why then are we still seeking for formal or pursuing education?

FACTS ABOUT UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

• Your degree certificate will not put food on your table
• Your degree certificate however good will not pay bills
• Your degree certificate however good cannot guarantee you a good job
• Your degree certificate cannot provide a steady income
• Your degree certificate is just and nothing more than a paper on its own.

Why then are we depending on a paper to put food on our table, pay bills, give income and give job? Something is wrong somewhere.

STATEMENT JUSTIFICATION

Please dont get me wrong, BSc, MSc, PhD are good, in fact very good. It widens your scope, boost your understanding, provide you with knowledge but does not necessarily transform into what we want on its own. It does not guarantee that which people are looking for in life.

Everyone need education, it is the best gift a child can receive. The seed of education is usually bitter but the fruits are sweet when it is known and used. Therefore, you need to acknowledge the fruit and eat it with wisdom.

It is imperative to have a rethink and cast one mind off automatic translation into enhanced life after schooling without knowing or experiencing proper education. The education that turned one into a crammer for which the recorded message is forgotten after graduation or for which the lessons learnt in class even when remembered are not applicable in the real world is not education.

Nigerian parents would say, I am sending you to school so that you can take care of me when I am old and weak, providing for me when I am poor and without. This is not the type of education the society need. Actually, there was a time when things worked that way but not in this dispensation.

The society has set her goals which include economic stability and power, political power and the necessities of life, there are two ways of attaining them. The first is through education and the second is through hardworking. I know many individuals that are not educated but are hardworking that have attained the goals of life. I think a perfect example is the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria (President Muhammdu Buhari) whose secondary education is very arguable. Today as a president, his Vice is a professor, very educated and intelligent but why cannot we have people intelligent as leaders at the forefront?

We have this similar situation at all levels in the country where people leading in ministries, offices and parastatals are mostly mediocre in education. What then is the place of the educated? Is there a place for the educated?

WHAT DO WE NEED?

There is need for a paradigm shift which should enhance our ideas, reset our focus, redirect our direction and replace our priorities. And this can be summarized into the following:

• Doing what the degree cannot do,

• Mastering what the theory did not teach,

• Doctoring the ambitions and dreams of your life,

• Professorating over life challenges with wisdom acquired from formal education.

I almost criticize formal education just before I realized there is more to it than the degree. Go outside the degree, look beyond the certificate, look beyond the grade if you want education. This is what I call education and it is attainable.

There are many players in the world already, so the world doesnt need players anymore, the world need people who are game changers. And this should be the educated ones not people carrying certificate. You must be a problem solving guru to attain your dreamed goals.

To be continued...

Please UPVOTE and RESTEEM to encourage me

Thanks.