By Jimoh Mukaila Oyewole
Permit to start this narrative by acknowledging the giant strides of oncerned individuals and their efforts on how to re position the Nigeria education industry, from a merit deficit status, believing that,if we all got education right, the various facets of human existence will be right. Because, the countries on the ladder of development today globally invested heavily on education particularly on Science and Technology, some of these countries are not as fortunate like Nigeria with abundant natural and human resources but made it globally due to immense investment in education on their citizens.
It is premised on the above, that I aligned myself with the school of thought of people,who are optimistically incurable that, we will only get it right, if the cry for a better change that can continuously be loudly echoed ,This cry can further be a source to ignite the strength and wisdom of the leaders to shift focus to more relevant areas of human development especially science and technology which are economic – driven .
The focus of this write up is fundamentally intended to invite the attention of the leadership of the education industry to the need to work seriously towards creating an enabling environment that will guarantee a functional education system for our children, who are aliens to the current complex nature of Nigeria education system,that has the potential possibility of breeding a fractured future, for the children,If the needful was not done.
Educational antecedents have proven that, Nigeria education evolved through various layers of evolution, with the products of these evolutionary periods of education, having their future being determined by the type of education they had acquired.
There was a period in this nation,when education as a profession was the pride and dream of every child because of the inherent acceptance value,and beauty of the profession and the quality then, today ,unfortunately, this beautiful profession was suddenly overthrown by extreme desire and passion for money and this led to a sharp dwindling on the system .As a matter of fact, the conscience of the youths as it is today, have been conscripted to perceiving education as a path to richness,or a means to an end,and not an end to itself.
Recent researches have shown that ,the world is gradually and quietly migrating towards ICT, ROBOTICS,
ENTREPRENEURSHIP ,to mention but a few,not because of the monetary value advantage,but for the advancement of a scientific oriented society,where critical thinking will be a determinant of existence,yet our youths are yet to take the full advantage of their potential to key in to this new trend of a child of necessity.
The bulk of our youths toda,y, are more concerned with studying courses than can fetch more money on a an easy pedestrian., than specializing on courses that will address the immediate needs. of the society
These youths may be wrong for developing such instinct, and perception, but cannot be crucified for their display of hostility to the new trend, simply because their thinking is being powered and modelled by the prevailing attitudinal changes of a society that places much premium and emphasis on the supremacy of wealth as a bench -mark for measuring achievement In the society.In other clans, education curricular are tailored to address challenges and other transparent peculiarities in order to re shape the orientation of the people in society for better. Some society also designed their curricular to respond to the yearning .and aspirations of the society. It is therefore surprising seeing Nigeria government and professionals in the educational sector, compromising the value of education,by finding it difficult to re evaluate our current education curricular structure to suit the present prevailing circumstance .It is essentially important to note that full compliance of a quality curricular implementation towards meeting societal demands, is one of the fundamental ways by which we can develop as a nation, as well as gain recognition among community of nations.As it is today,the moral and quality standing of our education curricular cannot pass integrity test,if placed on international scale,due to various challenges that are powerfully engendered by government, parents,and students.We have deliberately created an atmosphere of mutual destruction to our educational system,which has unfortunately strangulated our development, as a nation,far more than insecurity has done to us. Our institutions of higher learning are nothing but rusty research centers, occasioned by scarcity of capital and human resources, as well as ,brain drain every now and then, Sudents find it difficult to translate ideas to reality, Our schools are viable center of touts and cultists bakery. Our schools are already made incubators for yahooism,and cultism. Our public primary schools are in complex state of shambles and sympathy, yet,we are giant of Africa.We must realize that,the role of continental leadership transcends above mere cosmetic expression. It is a serious minded business which must be felt in the education , economic and moral developments As a serious minded nation ,our education must be seen as a tool to eschewing violence.It must be seen as a tool for development and societal advancement..Our education apart from reducing crime rate, should be able to anticipate long and short term developmental needs and challenges,as well as promoting the core values of peaceful co existence,for it to merit the position of a full fledged system.
In conclusion,a state of emergency should be declared on education,and experts invited to fine tune ways by which education can be a blessing,than celebration of tragedy of success and developmental needs.
Jimoh Mukaila is a Management expert sent in this piece from Federal Polytechnic Kaltungo Gombe, Gombe State