EDUCATION AND NIGERIAN STUDENTS

   The adage: "The greatest gift a man can give his child is education" may have lost its sweetness to the ear, especially in this developing country of ours, Nigeria. In our country today, parents send their children to school having faith that after school they will get jobs and become successful persons in the official world. This assurance, after school is no where to be found but prayer has become a walking stick for such fulfilment.

   Yes!, it can be said that education is a great gift. But has this gift sharpened or blunted a child's innate gift? A teenager or youth in other countries are relying on one source of income or the other, making ends meet by putting their creativity or gift into gainful use. Here, a youth is seen trying to memorize theories needed for acceptance into a tertiary institution. Some, at parenthood age still strive into this institute for their first degree.

   The social media we are using today was conceived and birthed by someone who dropped out of school. Also, a popular Nigerian singer was said to have dropped out of school. How great is the gift that these and some who stopped their education couldn't see? Yet, they are doing better than those who endured the heat being in a confined learning environment.

   Can a person who didn't develop the interest in teaching or lecturing perform at best when he or she ends up there? This happens when the search for a job proves futile thereby making education sector the next alternative to venture into, at least to keep the spirit, soul and body together as one. These people with such unfortunate case take up the teaching or lecturing job, waiting for the end of the month to have the expenditure to eat that healthy food and pay up debt that may have spring forth in the cause of waiting for the pay. This  dominates their thinking, making them to perform below expectation during classes. Students, on the other hand loose interest in putting effort towards studies (especially in the tertiary institution), making them to seek for alternatives which may make or mar them.

   If the education sector is a juicy place to be, then students right from their teenage days will start building the interest towards teaching (or lecturing) but the opposite is the winning case in this our zone of habitation. This situation in the sector is one of the reasons teachers or lecturers don't put in  effort towards the development of students. Only students who are favoured with sharp or already developed minds are able digest the teaching or lectures of lecturers.

   A person may be tempted to say students in private schools receive quality education. One thing to look out is this, "How sound are the teachers in these private schools?", A person who attended a public school can be offered a job in a private school. So what is the significant difference? Or are you going to say the curriculum in private and public schools looks alien to each other? It is said that students from public schools (especially the tertiary institution) are more opened or smarter than those in the private schools. With this, what quality is embedded in the quality education that may be assumed to be unleashed in private schools?

   Most undergraduate students are CEOs of one business or the other, those who have not attain such title are working as freelance employees. The assurance of getting a befitting or suitable job after school is slim -- the reason for their engagement in other task as an equivalent or support. There is no doubt that this multiple engagement (school and business) have weakened their concentration towards studies. Some who are doing well at what ever they lay their hands on loose the interest to study as expected thereby performing below the acceptable standard in academics.

   For some students in  public schools, a time of strike sends the cool breeze of relief to them, rather than the hot breeze of fear of a possible prolong academic calendar. They see this as opportunity to concentrate on their businesses or rest from the rigorous school work -- running from class to class loaded with students to the brim, with heat filling the hall like an escaped gas is enough for them to feel relieved or be excited at the announcement of strike.

   Welcome to the age where students who struggled and were joyous to have been granted admission at a tertiary institute gradually loose interest due to the appalling situation of the education sector.

   Welcome to the age where education is seen to hamper the gift or talent, all in the name of acquiring the signed paper as a sign of literacy.

   Welcome to the age where wealthy parents send their children to school abroad, outside and away from the appalling education sector in Nigeria.

   Is this education still the greatest gift a man can give his child?

Victor P. Bassey

IG: @thesalt11

Email: bassey.victor53@yahoo.com

09031147158