Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Advanced Illiteracy

This morning, while browsing through the daily online Nigerian news I came across an article titled “Exorbitant School Fees” and I was immediately appalled by its content. The instant rush of thought in my mind came in the form of questions!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where are we going, what is wrong with the state of our Nation!!
Where is our collective responsibility as a nation?

We are already faced with a high number of uneducated children in Nigeria which once again validates the state of illiteracy in a supposed great nation. Statistics show an approximate number of 10million school aged children are not attending school, of this number 4.7 million are of primary school age, while 5.3 million are of secondary school age. How do we explain this, what happened to the “No child Left Behind policy act”with such exaggerated increase in tuition fees, where is the representation of the common child’s basic right to education which enacts the theories of standard based education reform, . Is there really a dream to live for, is it necessary to fall into the slumber of sleep in quest for the anticipated dream to occur? I’m lost confused and yet enraged by the unnecessary increment in school fees.

Now a state governor has giving a tactic approval to this effect by endorsing an outrageous increment in school fees when the average family earns a derisory amount in salary barely sufficient for the basic needs and wants of the common family.
The concern for a better Nigeria grows by the seconds yet some of our leaders are in themselves the barricading factors of progress, they make endorsements to such effect hitherto to that salary wages remain the same while their own children attend some of the best colleges abroad is this fair, and is this life? Where is the heart of God in man, I wonder!!!!!!!!!!! These so called governors [few I would say] while quick to approve such increment are slow to approve an increase in the common workers salary why is this the case? This increment initiative would only be acceptable if the rationale behind it is geared at benefiting our teachers as incentive for their relentless efforts. However, I doubt this is the case except I’m convinced otherwise.

Stand with me people as we join forces in the campaign to counter this increment in tuition fee. Let us demand a Bipartisan resolution and call for the enactment of the “No Child Left behind Policy ” as the right of the common child otherwise, we would be aiding advanced illiteracy in our nation.
I’m too enraged to continue writing. Attached is the link in retrospect to the article in question please feel free to study, examine, analyze and scrutinize this article.
http://odili.net/news/source/2008/jan/23/33.html

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3 comments:

kshorty1 said...

Well thought Moji. It amazes me that our leaders just don't get it. India and China are rising stars because of the quality of education.

Until we begin to get our priorities straight, we won't be able to get out of the woods.

You should hear an average graduate speak these days. The standards have fallen so much that we now accept mediocrity as commonplace.

We need to revamp the education sector and fast too. Cheap and good quality education is essential for national development. We may not see the effects right away but sooner than later, we'll all be better off for it.

olaray said...

I am soooo glad that this conversation as come up. As a highly qualified educator here in the states, i am especially concerned with the state of our nation's public education system back home. Our government has failed woefully at providing a cogent education system. The world has changed and our children have no choice but to compete with the rest of the world. Unfortunately our children are not able to comptete with the rest of the world because they dont have the tools to do so. Of course private schools will milk the government's inability to provide good public education to it's citizens. These so called Private schools are not even well regulated by the govt., we have no standards to adhere to. If we dont know where we are, how do we know where to go? First step we need highly qualified and competent teachers, then focus on pedagogy, and we need to pay teachers well so they really focus on teaching. We need schools that are fully equped with books , computers and learning materials. Students also need exposure to real life situations and practices so they can do hands on projects rather than read about abstract things in a book and regurgitating it back in tests without any form of exposure to the content.
I can go on till im blue in the face but till the govt. wakes up and realized that the future generation are not ready for the future then i guess we just keep hoping for the best!

Anonymous said...

we must focus on education if there is going to be any meaningful development in this Nation.....