Nigeria’s educational system at present is in near comatose due to certain policy default and implementational lapses. The policy makers are jumping up and down chasing shadows instead of living up to expectations geared at making our education sector work. one of the well known reasons why the former remains at status quo is due to the fact that the ‘Big Men’ engage their wards in the best and finest private schools in the country and often – in schools outside the shores of the country.
During my time as an undergraduate at the University of Abuja, the only government owned university in the nation’s seat of power; it was one hell of nasty experience. Life as an undergraduate should be something every secondary school leaver wishes to experience – due to the fun and independent life undergraduates experience at that level. No doubt, I was fully of optimism when I boarded the bus to the nation’s seat of capital to start my university education. I was in full spirit and at the same time, weary of challenges that will come my way.
Educational policies made by the authorities must be implemented to the latter as to ensure maximum result. Where needed policies are lacking, it is expected that such ones be drafted and put in place, for the betterment of the system. University of Abuja, due to its close proximity to the nation’s capital, should be used as a pilot school to test run some already made and to-be-made policies. Optimum monitoring should also be ensured.
It took me six years to graduate from the higher institution, which shouldn’t ordinarily exceed four years. Then, ASUU strike took a year off our academic calendar, and the rest one year was used in getting my grades and data computed by lecturers in my department. Challenge them as to why you should remind them of the jobs they needed to do, then, you begin to hear things like “We own the school, and we do as we please.” Imagine a scenario where a lecturer does not compute your grades at the end of each examination and expects you to remind him so the work will be done. One of the papers I wrote in my second semester in school, came back to haunt me in my last semester as an undergraduate. An inconsequential USE OF LIBRARY with a 1point grade – so I thought. I never knew the course lecturer intentionally did not record down my grade and many others, due to the fact that we didn’t come to “dust his chair”; if we had realized on time, we could have even washed the chair after-all. To make matters worse, the subject wasn’t reflecting in our yearly released results either as carryover course or an outstanding course. Well, my personal experience will be tales for another day.
With the very high funds accrued to Education in 2016 (and others) Budget, one would think that the dead system will be revived. The leader of this nation should give great attention to developing the great minds that abounds in Nigeria through Education. Educational grants should also be introduced into the system. Scholarships should be created, to cater for the ever growing bright minds that cannot sponsor themselves through school.
Source: dubemnaija
