In our society today, the conservatives say that our educational system is in a state of quagmire. There are lots of irregularities that are associated with the system. But, I think it can be brought to normal if individuals, groups and the government can come together and find a meaningful and lasting solution to the problem.
What is education? To me, it is a formal system designed to properly train a person for his or her well being and development in all ramification of life. It is an added value to one’s life.
Here, I want us to look at those factors bedeviling the Nigerian educational system and then, suggest possible ways to sanitise it.
Most schools in the country today, lack the required educational facilities. A visit to most government owned primary and secondary schools for instance, will present you with nothing but shock. Imagine a school with dilapidated classroom buildings; old, rusted and leaking roofs, disgusting and unhygienic toilets, and so on. You may be forced to ask: what is the local government authority of this place doing about such a disgusting and shameful sight in the name of a school? Pupils of such schools, are left to suffer untold hardship in the name of attending schools. My heart goes out to the average Nigerian pupil!
Similarly, so many government-owned secondary schools lack sophisticated laboratories, libraries, scientific equipments and the like. These have greatly contributed to making the average Nigerian student deficient in his or her field of study.
Similarly, the employment, and the checking of teachers whether they are academically, psychologically and emotionally balance are nothing to write home about. This leads to the academic death of most Nigerian students today.
What about teaching the average Nigerian student about true identity; language and history in our various institutions? It is quite shameful that the average Nigerian student cannot speak any the local dialects of where they come from. Isn’t it a shame that the average Nigerian student does not have a true identity?
Most of our parents today are even making matters worse. Instead of making the learning of indigenous language a priority for their children and wards, the reverse is the case as we sadly have a situation where many Nigerian students are ashamed of their local names. Preferably, most of them want to be called by their ‘English names’ or a ‘modernised version’ of the local names.
Somehow, the system has placed Nigerian students at a psychological crossroad. They are not able to find a balance between their identity and environment they find themselves. This is what I call psychological conquering of the individual.
What about the incessant strikes that have contributed to the paralysing of the educational system? Does it mean that our leaders and the government no longer know the value of education anymore? The government, I perceive, is suffering from national psychosis.
What are some of the measures which when applied will go a long way in reviving the educational system? Parents, teachers, local government chairmen, counsellors and so on should be able to pass information to the state government concerning the deteriorating conditions of government-owned primary or secondary school.
COLLINS AMAECHI
