The "APC" led government generally made that promise and indeed, the news gladdened the hearts of many parents, igniting hope that their children would not be denied education because of their financial constraints. If the government keeps to his word, this would send a message that his government really is determined to bring change and relief especially to the poor citizens of the state. Nevertheless, you see, the problem of Nigeria's educational system runs deep and cannot be fixed merely by the offer of free education because the challenges are so grave.
Government schools are in such a deplorable state that it will take more than free education to fix the menace. Education is not about seeing the four walls of a school; it is more about instilling values and empowering people to contribute positively to the development of society and the world at large.
Government schools are in such a deplorable state that it will take more than free education to fix the menace. Education is not about seeing the four walls of a school; it is more about instilling values and empowering people to contribute positively to the development of society and the world at large.
Ignoring the more important issues like teacher qualification, development of relevant curricula, training, and infrastructural development is detrimental to the development of any nation. Over the past seven years, I have had the opportunity to teach in two government schools for six months and a year respectively and the problem is bigger than we all envisage. It does not make much sense spending so much money in producing people who, having attained formal education remain illiterate, uneducated, and a liability to government.
True education shapes one’s attitude and values. It enhances development of one’s inborn talents, abilities, and skills. Education is for developing the learner who will in turn contribute to the development of the nation. It is the acquisition of skills, knowledge, and new ideas, which brings about a desired change in behaviour. Education is not just for job employment and salary earning, as is the case now in the public sector in Nigeria.
Education according to the National Policy on education “NPE” has four basic purposes, which are:
Proof of education is KNOWLEDGE, EMPOWERMENT, ENTERPRISE, AND PRODUCTIVITY “KEEP”.
However, all these seem impossible to achieve currently in our public schools due to the state of affairs. Public schools are congested with untrained teachers who lack passion for the job and students who can neither read nor write even amongst the senior secondary school students. Some of these teachers are there just to be gainfully employed.
Recently, a relative walked up to me who wanted to go to the village to write her senior secondary school exams because she could not make good grades in the city. She can neither read nor write. Many students in both public primary and secondary schools do not have a good command of the English language, neither are they literate. One begins to wonder the criteria for their admission into school in the first place and how they can even pass their final exams or gain promotion to the next class. Our nation is having people who will end up being a liability to the society - schooled but uneducated. This problem stems from the fact that proper entrance examinations and oral interviews, which were employed as criteria for gaining admission into our schools, have been discarded or have become less effective.
The other major problem is because everyone wants to enrol in formal education due to the lack of development in our rural areas. Consequent upon poverty and lack of industries, people who should be making a living out of farming and other informal ventures troop to the town to gain admission into school because that seem like their last hope of ever making a living. Without being able to read, write, or speak good English, admission is granted them.
Lack of necessary infrastructure such as adequate classrooms, seats, teaching boards, and laboratories contribute greatly to the problem of education coupled with dilapidation and non-renovation of the existing ones. How can children learn effectively in small classrooms housing well over 50 students? In some of these schools, students sit on the ground and learn. The public Primary Schools in the state illustrates all these problems. When I look at the condition of its buildings and classrooms, I cannot imagine how any child -even from the poorest of homes - can be proud to attend such a school. Sometimes I feel that the leaders of this nation do not know or have chosen to ignore the long-term implications and effects of schooled and unschooled illiterates on the economy.
It would interest you to know that many of the people seeking admission into higher institutions of learning or seeking employment can neither read nor write. The crux of the problem is that these people leaving the rural areas to gain admission into urban secondary schools had attended primary schools where they were taught in their local dialects. This suggests to me that the problem of education must be addressed from the local government level. Government must build industries and infrastructure that would keep farmers and other traders attracted to the rural life.
If government both at the local, state, and national levels wants to leave a lasting legacy and put smiles on the faces of her citizens, education must be addressed with all sense of sincerity, seriousness, and urgency. In conclusion, agriculture must be given serious attention and both the young and old must be motivated to engage in farming for economic purposes. It is therefore imperative that the Nigeria child is not just given free education, but quality education that would develop him or her into a productive and skilled citizen.
True education shapes one’s attitude and values. It enhances development of one’s inborn talents, abilities, and skills. Education is for developing the learner who will in turn contribute to the development of the nation. It is the acquisition of skills, knowledge, and new ideas, which brings about a desired change in behaviour. Education is not just for job employment and salary earning, as is the case now in the public sector in Nigeria.
Education according to the National Policy on education “NPE” has four basic purposes, which are:
- To develop the learners
- To cater for their unique differences and qualities
- To develop national consciousness, a sense of unity, and better human relations
- And to enable them to acquire skills and competencies needed for productive citizenship.
Proof of education is KNOWLEDGE, EMPOWERMENT, ENTERPRISE, AND PRODUCTIVITY “KEEP”.
However, all these seem impossible to achieve currently in our public schools due to the state of affairs. Public schools are congested with untrained teachers who lack passion for the job and students who can neither read nor write even amongst the senior secondary school students. Some of these teachers are there just to be gainfully employed.
Recently, a relative walked up to me who wanted to go to the village to write her senior secondary school exams because she could not make good grades in the city. She can neither read nor write. Many students in both public primary and secondary schools do not have a good command of the English language, neither are they literate. One begins to wonder the criteria for their admission into school in the first place and how they can even pass their final exams or gain promotion to the next class. Our nation is having people who will end up being a liability to the society - schooled but uneducated. This problem stems from the fact that proper entrance examinations and oral interviews, which were employed as criteria for gaining admission into our schools, have been discarded or have become less effective.
The other major problem is because everyone wants to enrol in formal education due to the lack of development in our rural areas. Consequent upon poverty and lack of industries, people who should be making a living out of farming and other informal ventures troop to the town to gain admission into school because that seem like their last hope of ever making a living. Without being able to read, write, or speak good English, admission is granted them.
Lack of necessary infrastructure such as adequate classrooms, seats, teaching boards, and laboratories contribute greatly to the problem of education coupled with dilapidation and non-renovation of the existing ones. How can children learn effectively in small classrooms housing well over 50 students? In some of these schools, students sit on the ground and learn. The public Primary Schools in the state illustrates all these problems. When I look at the condition of its buildings and classrooms, I cannot imagine how any child -even from the poorest of homes - can be proud to attend such a school. Sometimes I feel that the leaders of this nation do not know or have chosen to ignore the long-term implications and effects of schooled and unschooled illiterates on the economy.
It would interest you to know that many of the people seeking admission into higher institutions of learning or seeking employment can neither read nor write. The crux of the problem is that these people leaving the rural areas to gain admission into urban secondary schools had attended primary schools where they were taught in their local dialects. This suggests to me that the problem of education must be addressed from the local government level. Government must build industries and infrastructure that would keep farmers and other traders attracted to the rural life.
If government both at the local, state, and national levels wants to leave a lasting legacy and put smiles on the faces of her citizens, education must be addressed with all sense of sincerity, seriousness, and urgency. In conclusion, agriculture must be given serious attention and both the young and old must be motivated to engage in farming for economic purposes. It is therefore imperative that the Nigeria child is not just given free education, but quality education that would develop him or her into a productive and skilled citizen.
About Comfort Michael-Sule
Michael-Sule is a writer, author of many published books, a public speaker, and life coach to youths and single people. She has passion to correct the wrong in the society and in people's lives. She just wants to make a positive difference and create positive change in the society and in people's lives. She lives in Benue State, Nigeria.
You can reach her through facebook.com/comfortsule, twitter.com/comfortsule, googleplus.com/comfortmuchaelsule.
You can read her blog: http://www.comfortmichaelsule.blogspot.com
Phone:07030840198
Email: mscomfort9@gmail.com
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