I've tried looking back to how things were going smoothly in the past. Our parents were always sounding into our ears to go to school, be educated and become great so that we can work in the best company with a huge salary enough to make our dreams come true. How has it been for you then? I am talking about those years from 2000, 2001 etc but as it is now, things have changed...I wouldn't want to use the word "worse" because I still believe in the good change.
Our people have been poisoned with different mindsets about education and how the system has gone bad. I look at it too and I just shake my head.
Well, I have never been among those who said "Education is a scam". Why would it be so?
Education as it may be is a process of gaining knowledge. Have you heard of the phrase "If education is expensive, try ignorance?"
Why would you want to try ignorance? Being ignorant is like you surrendering yourself to be a slave that is far from freedom.
While growing up, I have come to realize that without connection even as an educated person, you won't go anywhere but still, you have to earn that certificate. Who knows what the future holds.
Many people that keep saying education is a scam have just been made to see the wrong part of education as it is.
Let's see it this way;
I asked my good friend @olawalium of his view about education being a scam or not and here is the summary of what he told me:
Education is not for everybody but it is necessary to support every child from basic education to secondary level because one of the objectives of basic education is to inculcate in the mind of learners the spirit of enquiry and creativity, of a sound mind i.e grammatically and intellectual development.
But when they get to tertiary institutions, it should be by choice and not for them to be forced to go to school because most of them aren't meant to continue in education, but are made to go into the line of craft making etc. When they are being forced to go to school, it becomes a waste of years when, what they are doing after school doesn't have any effect on what they studied. (Perhaps these are those who think education is a scam.)
One of the major factors bringing this issue up is the ASUU STRIKE in Nigeria. The strike has been a major problem for every youth and it makes everything frustrating. Instead of students being in school to graduate on time and focus on the next thing, they are being delayed at home for long months which makes everyone find other ways to make ends meet as they do not know how the future would be.
Through that, so many people have identified their creativity and put it into action while others tried other means to make money and when they call off the strike, they don't feel like going to school again because they are already doing what they have been used to during those times of being at home without education. For this kind of person, it is easy to say education is a scam.
I was told the story of one of my uncles who refused to further his education because according to him, he said he wouldn't be able to focus or do well than going to learn a skill. After much persuasion, he was left alone to go for what he wanted, that was after finishing his junior school education. Now, he is doing fine with the skill he has learned.
Let's say for such a person who was forced to go to school, it would have been a waste of years for him because his ability isn't for education but to learn a craft or skill but for those who would want to go to school, they are free to go.
ANOTHER VIEW TO IT
The education sector should be blamed though because they fail to do what is right and made people think in such a way. When lecturers are being bribed to pass a student after offering their bodies for marks, even to the head of a school, who should we blame?
When a student has done his or her best reading and doing everything that should be done but fails...Who should be blamed?
When they start seeing those who only paid for grades being given employment through connection or bribery, they start to conclude why did they go to school in the first place?.
During my school days, I only get to see new faces when it was exam time and I would ask my friends if they were also our colleagues, and I would be shocked when they say "Yes". They have their ways of getting grades while the serious ones suffer for it because we don't have money or body to surrender to these bad and corrupt lecturers.
Na who know way go know the road
This means it is those who know the way that will get away with it through illegal means.
The truth is, to me, education can never be a scam because it is a way of helping you to gain knowledge while you put into practice what you have been taught outside the world of work.
There will always be a big difference between someone who goes to school from the one who doesn't even if the latter succeed in life, the gap would always be there and the chance can't be competed with.
I think many people have depended so much on the government to provide them with employment and when they are rejected after gaining a certificate, they become disappointed and they conclude education is a scam.
Why?
This is because they have seen most people who do not go to school but are doing fine. These kind of people need to understand education isn't meant for everybody and that doesn't make them think it is a scam.
Some might not have the means to go to school and so, they settle for what they could do to survive.
I have seen old people coming back to receive lectures in my department. I would be competing with an old man in another department for a seat in class and I wonder why it took them long to value education?
One way or the other, opportunity would show that you will need to go back to school to obtain a degree certificate. Perhaps you have been among those who think education is a scam.
Education is for you to have experience and knowledge, so you don't hook yourself in the world of poverty and poor mentality.
While researching this topic, I read different views. I would say 80% of those who replied thought that education and schooling isn't a scam.
According to Seyi from the National Space Research and Development Agency which can be found here
Education is not a scam, but a huge human capital investment. Schooling coupled with entrepreneurial skill acquisition for self-reliance is one of the ways to reduce overdependence on government as the major employer of labour in developing nations. Youths need the right orientation about the purpose(s) of education, not only as a means of earning a livelihood but as a cure to ignorance and poverty of minds. Thanks.
Education is a cure to ignorance and poverty.
There will always be a big difference between a person who goes to school to study from someone who didn't. Their mentalities would be different and their ways of perspective definitely wouldn't be the same.
That doesn't mean those who didn't go to school aren't doing fine. Just like I said, education isn't for everyone so that those who are supposed to learn a craft but went for education, won't be wasted years for them. The same thing with someone who is supposed to go to school but went in line of learning a skill, it won't be a wasted time for him or her too. Do what your ability can carry and never force yourself.
I have a friend who also thinks education is a scam. We have both graduated, but pls kindly ask her who a guidance counsellor is?, she wouldn't say anything. Why? She was never serious with education and everything she does now even as a graduate, is questionable. Why did she go to school? Did she even pass through school or does she allows the school to pass through her?
What if an opportunity shows up tomorrow with her proving that she went to school and earn that certificate by her sweat, what would she offer? This same person is so talented in hairdressing and she would always say that education isn't meant for her. Why did she now go? It means those years are a waste for her.
In conclusion,
Education is good and important but it shouldn't be forced on anyone because someone passionate about going to school wouldn't think education is a scam but only those who have been forced or who think their friends are going to school, should also go. Know what you want before it's too late for you.
Thanks for reading
All Gifs from Peakd frontend.
Image credit to akshayapatra on pixabay and edited on Canva.
