I can't but write something about my experience of getting an education in Nigeria. Why is it so stressful? Why do students have to go through many hard times before they can get educated and become someone successful? All these questions have been lingering in my mind and I haven't found a suitable answer to them. I am a student of a well-known polytechnic in Nigeria. I can say that my school had laid down a good legacy during its early days but the education system in Nigeria these days is so disheartening.
The curriculum has been changed severally, taking away some qualities in Nigeria's educational system. When I was in secondary school, my parents told me that "our generation isn't undergoing good education because most of the topics that are supposed to be included in our subjects are no longer included". As a science student, It's ideal for me to take a social science subject but schools didn't support that.
It was a bit better during my time then, this growing generation's educational system is so bad. Some of the things I was taught during my time of about 9 years ago are no longer in the curriculum. They kept on revising which sometimes is unnecessary. This was for secondary school, coming to the higher institution, you can no longer go to school in Nigeria without making up your mind that you are going into a business organization to pay your way out.
Students are no longer a graduate by hard work, some are graduates by paid work. Once you have money to spend, everything will come to you on a platter of gold. A scenario that happened to me recently made me conclude that the educational system in Nigeria is corrupt. When I wanted to submit my files for my national diploma, I was asked to pay the sum of #1000 which I did. After resuming my higher national diploma degree, I was to collect the files back and I was told to pay the sum of #1000 for collection.
When some students went to report the matter, the school management said they didn't ask them to collect any amount from the students. We were told we were to be given free but some set of people saw it as an opportunity to swindle the students. After that, I was to do departmental clearance which I was to choose my desired department. I was waiting for the clearance until I saw my name posted to the microbiology department instead of the biochemistry department that I desired.
I went to the head of the unit to complain and I was told to pay a sum of #10,000 to get my department changed. I was amazed as I opened my mouth wide for some minutes because I couldn't process what the money was for. This is something I have the right to, but now I will have to pay for them to give me what I want. This saddened my heart and left it shattered as it was unexpected.
That aside, my school has a very big compound in which you will have to work for almost 30 minutes from the school gate to my department that's if you can walk fast. For someone who takes his or her time while walking will take like 45 minutes to get there. Therefore tricycles are prepared at the gate entrance. To convey each student to his or her department such students will have to pay a small token for that and anyone that can trek will do so.
Image credit is mine
This is the long queue I had to pass through every day before getting to my class. Waking up as early as seven o'clock, this queue will be as long as you can imagine. The transport system isn't enough for the large number of students. We had to take turns waiting, sometimes getting late to class, with dust all over our bodies.
Image credit is mine
I just wish Nigeria's education system could get better from what it is now because it is not encouraging at all. We all demand change but the change begins with us even before getting to our leaders because we are the enemies of ourselves.
Thanks for your time and your comments will be appreciated.