A line of thought that dares to be provoking will be a question that may constantly linger in the minds of every well-meaning Nigerian…
Can the Nigerian educational sector really measure up to international standards?
A trip down memory lane (1842). When formal education was introduced by the colonialists through the missionaries, the Nigerian educational system was born and slowly progressed between 1872 and 1882. Then the first higher institution was established which paved the way for other institutions to spring up.
Looking back now, it was such an auspicious beginning for the populace, although, records show that there has been a massive increase in the setup of educational institutions throughout the country (primary, secondary, and tertiary). The system has not been able to keep up the pace with the increase in institutions, and it can be affirmed that the quality of education has been negatively impacted by frequent closure of schools (strikes), due to the government not yielding to the demands of educators, teachers, and lecturers with respect to upgrading learning standards and deserved increment in remuneration packages for educators, cultural factors and funding also play a role in this decline.
The country annually records an acceleration in university graduates, but some of these graduates are lacking in the quality of the certificates they possess….
In a recent conversation with people who schooled in the early ’90s and 2000s, they had different angles to buttress:
Hassy: I graduated from a school that can be said to be one of the first institutions established in Nigeria, and it is disheartening to say at the very least that during my time there as a student, till the moment I graduated, the school lacked content and quality. And after all this time passed, the school still does not have it together especially in the areas of educational upgrade with regards to learning structures, dwindling supply in educational materials, and most importantly, lecturers who just did not have the will to disseminate knowledge effectively to students.
The one question that got thrown out there from each of the contributors was what forms the basis for the unceasing decline in the Nigerian educational system?????
Rabeema said: in the ’70s, ’80s, early and mid-’90s, the standard of education was far better especially the public-school system. Back then, public schools were doing fantastically well. We had quality in every aspect from infrastructure to quality in teaching staff, such that private schools were just an option. But now, this is not the case at all. Our public schools are in such a deplorable state that you risk losing out if you do not muster up finance to send your child to a private school.
Oreoluwa said: Personal experience in the field has made me realize that the government must re-evaluate a lot about the educational system. I have come to accept that things taught in the classroom have not been entirely useful in real life. For the educational system to become relevant, there is a dire need to inculcate and implement knowledge utilized from the fields into classroom teaching than focusing majorly on theory.
Halims said that it is noteworthy to mention that despite the continued deprivation of educational funding from the government, and the starvation of libraries with quality educational materials, the school is still able to churn out intelligent and focused professionals in all areas of study. Making lemonade from a lemon is what I liken this to.
With these lines of thought, one would ponder over the current state of the system, considering the storm which accompanied the pandemic, and accepting the new normal of online learning. It is imperative for university students to have a complete grasp of the impact caused by the pandemic and how they can develop coping strategies to restore some level of normalcy.
One of the major effects of the pandemic is the impact on mental health, from anxiety to depression, and loneliness, students need to be able to maintain an active lifestyle (exercise and connect with colleagues), practice good sleep and infection control hygiene, and take a break to sharpen the saw whenever necessary.
We cannot rule out the thought of what the post-pandemic era will bring forth. How much of an impact will it have on the educational system going forward? Educationists must have a re-think as the COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be a formidable challenge, and they must be proactive plus innovative to deal with the challenges as they come. We have already accepted the trend of online learning, but futuristic trends must be all-inclusive regarding upskilling and introducing other factors that will further cushion the effect we have all suffered from the pandemic.
Penned by Amina, O Usman.
