There is a funny saying I have. It goes like this, "to him whom brain is giving, sense is expected". Naturally, every human has a brain, but not every human brain is developed, which is where education comes in. Education aids in the development of critical thinking. It teaches one how to use logic when making decisions and interacting with others, and it improves one's communication skills by teaching one how to read, write, and speak. Unfortunately, not everyone who passed through the school's four walls had the school pass through them.
This is why you walk into a doctor's office, and after laying your complaint, he picks up his phone to either Google or call another colleague. This is why a self-proclaimed lawyer is unfamiliar with the body that makes laws in her country. Certainly, there's no denying that the educational system in Nigeria is deteriorating. This is due to a faulty foundation. Like the saying goes, if the foundation is weak, the building will crumble.
It is difficult to pick one thing out and fix another in our educational system because a lot has gone wrong.
Just like the fish rots from the head, the foundational problem of education in Nigeria is the government. A government that spends so little on education is undoubtedly unconcerned about the impact of quality education on her children. The infrastructure in government-owned schools is deplorable. Teachers have been owed for months, knowing fully well that a hungry belle cannot perform optimally. What about constant strikes that cause children to miss out?
This has resulted in the rapid spread of substandard private schools because we live in a country where anyone can convert their sitting room into a school and no one bats an eye.
If I were to take one thing away from Nigeria's educational system, it would have to be the government. I'll replace those in the government arm of education with men of integrity who can revamp, rebuild, and rejig the quality of education in public schools. Men of integrity who will not accept a bribe in order to certify a school that clearly does not meet the required educational standards.
Another thing I will eliminate from Nigeria's educational system is the hiring of anyone as a teacher and not those who are true educators. Due to the scarcity of jobs in Nigeria, teaching jobs appear to be easy to obtain, whether you are a graduate or not. Most teachers did not take any educational courses at the higher institution, yet they are in the classrooms. Teaching is beyond having knowledge of the subject, as there is more to being a teacher as taught in colleges of education.
The school curriculum is constantly changing, and I wonder why. Previously, your siblings could use the books you used, but this is no longer attainable as education has become a business venture in which people lobby for the government to introduce their own books into the school curriculum, causing parents the untold hardship of having to constantly buy textbooks for their wards. If I have the authority to change this, I'll make sure that the same books are always used. Teachers will become more familiar with it, and older siblings will be able to teach younger siblings at home.
Some of the subjects we study in Nigeria are irrelevant to our future. Some of these subjects need to be dropped because it is a waste of time and effort to learn them. Schools should focus on vocational courses and practicals that children can apply in real life.
It's unfortunate that we live in a country where the return on investment in education is monetary, at the expense of a child's intellectual development. I sincerely hope to see a Nigeria where education is prioritized because
an educated nation is a powerful and prosperous nation.
This is my entry into Hive Learners Weekly writing prompt
Post pic made using canva app
I like how you hit the process of hiring teachers.
Some of the lecturers that me in school were totally off. It was clear that they were not supposed to be lecturers...no single idea at all apart from speaking English 😭
I loved how you tackled this problem from the very root. Yes, the government is the problem. They've demotivated teachers and demoralized the entire institution through bribery and corruption.
With your approach, Nigeria's educational system would definitely take a better turn.
This was such an interesting read! 💞
You've given a beautiful summary of the write up. Thank you
Your idea of changing those in government, especially those in charge of education, is a good idea. Imagine we have men who are ready to serve as well as the resources needed, they'll surely perform.
However, the government alone is not responsible. The other stakeholders like the teachers also have their share of the blame. But, truly if the government enforces certain rules the stakeholders should have no choice to follow suit.
Well done, @zyzymena
Yes! Like I rightly mentioned also, the teachers are also to blame as some of them aren't qualified and some of them do not give their best because there are no functioning regulatory bodies checkmating them but if the government will rise up to its expectations, there would be lots of positive changes in our educational system.
Thanks for stopping by.
Exactly, you get the point...Some teachers are just passing time at their jobs.
Anytime, ma'am.