Education, like we all know, is a fundamental human right according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and it goes a long way in improving lives in ways beyond what words alone can explain. Education through the years has been shown to impact lives in diverse ways, such as personal development in skills acquisition, self-esteem, and decision-making. In the aspect of economic empowerment, we know it paves the way for economic growth, employment opportunities, and many others. However, despite how amazing education is, it's unfortunate that not everyone has the right to it, and in this article I'd be talking about who has access to education in my country and what the education system is like down here.
To start with, what is the education system like in my country, Nigeria? It's worth noting that although I'm in the education system myself as an educator, I can't help but say the truth that education in my country is very porous and needs a huge amount of restructuring to bring it to its best, and my reason for saying that isn't far-fetched at all. Take for instance the aim of education: getting people educated is to bring out the best in them while also preparing them for the future and the outside world, basically impacting them with knowledge while also instilling discipline and moral values that shape their lives in them.
Unfortunately that isn't the case today; most academic centers are more concerned about the reputation of their school and the need to produce the best results than they are about producing the best graduates or the best teaching and learning environment. Most schools where knowledge is being imparted to students lack basic amenities and equipment that facilitate knowledge acquisition; even basic needs such as boards, chairs, classrooms, and the like aren't available in the majority of the schools. When these things are lacking, where then do we expect the children to learn, or how? And that's why it's surprising you see students learning under dilapidated structures or under trees.
Aside from these, the government cares less about education and takes it for granted. I mean, you can't employ a lawyer to become the minister of health, but you'll find people with no solid background rooted in the education system made to lead the pack of educators and the like. Little wonder why a teacher teaches according to the curriculum, but a random person appointed to assess students after the school section will set unrelated questions, and that ends up making the students fail and painting the teacher in a bad light.All of these need to stop; infrastructure needs to be put in place, learning aids need to be made available, and high-ranking teachers should be allowed to set exam questions based on the current academic section, not a random person who just picks what he or she likes.
When it comes to the question regarding if everyone is allowed to pursue their academic ambitions to the highest level, I must say that I'm at least proud of my country in this aspect. Even though we might not have the best of facilities or equipment that enhance learning, we at least have an education system that allows everyone to learn, regardless of their gender, race, or tribe. In fact, education is free in the public schools for both primary and secondary students; it's only tertiary institutions that they have to pay for. Only parents who take their wards to private school at the elementary level pay tuition fees, so at least in that aspect we're on the right path.
Basically everyone is allowed to go to school and study, but where some people can't meet up is when they can't afford the money needed to buy their ward uniform, books, pen, and textbooks that facilitate learning, because those aren't being provided by the government. But then what is assured is the fact that you won't pay any tuition fee and you can attend the school and be taught from elementary school to high school level, which are the basic stages of education. Although I'll clamor for the need for government to reduce the cost of education at the tertiary level, because it's becoming unaffordable, on the other hand, I just give kudos to them for making student loans available to everyone regardless of their gender, tribe, and the like.
All photos are mine.