Education, they say, is the key to success, and in truth, that's what it is, or better still, that's what it ought to be; unfortunately, the reverse is the case nowadays. I remember back then when we were growing up, they'd tell you to study hard and take your education seriously; that's it's the gateway to getting the job of your dreams and amassing wealth, but in reality, as we grow, we get to realize that that isn't the case, as you've got to struggle to get a decent job or settle for anyone you see while you sit out and watch others with little or no education excel in their endeavors, making you wonder if education is still the key to success.
A lot of things have happened in our community, education systems, and education at large that made it seem as though it's no longer the path to success; in fact, to make matters worse, you'll walk across the street or even on social media and hear both children and adults say education is a scam, meaning they don't believe in its effectiveness or usefulness in the society or in their bid to get sustainable growth and a future for themselves. Can we completely blame them for this statement? Of course not, because some things have changed, and below I highlighted some of these challenges that lead to the downward slide of education.
One of the notable changes that makes education seem irrelevant is the fact that we have many graduates who can't secure a job, and after their education program, you find them learning one trade or skill as an avenue to begin a life and start earning. You'll see someone who went to the university and graduated after years of writing applications and applying to different places get tired and start working as a cleaner, a gateman, or learn skills such as tailoring, carpentry, and the like so they can make ends meet; all of these can be discouraging for the coming generation, and that's why you'll see most of them say education is an organized crime to while away time.
Still on unemployment, we all know that even the government should be blamed for this; firstly, they don't provide enough jobs to accommodate the numbers of graduates we produce; secondly, when most of them want to employ people into their cabinet, such as SSA to them, you'll see them load those seats up with illiterate and riffraff who have little or no education background because those are the people they use in manipulating their way into the position, so at the end of the day, a graduate is job hunting or working as a cleaner, while an illiterate works in the governor's office and earns millions.
Another reason why education seems to have lost its savor is the society; there's this common statement around those now that no one cares how you make money, just make money and be rich. This statement, coupled with the unemployment rate amongst educated people or how those who are employed amongst them are poorly paid, has led many to ditch education and follow other paths, such as cybercrime, kidnapping, ritualism, and the likes, and before you know it, they're in wealth spending nonchalantly, while the educated can't even afford a three-square meal.
With all of these being visible to the young and upcoming generations, you'll be surprised that when you asked some of them what they'll love to become in the future, they won't tell you teacher, doctor, pilot, or all the notable professions we used to mention back then; you'll be shocked to hear some children will even tell you they want to be a yahoo boy (cybercriminal). Why? Because they've seen the difference between the life of these people and that of those who are educated and chose the one that seems better in their sight.
So these are some of the reasons why I think education has lost its touch and many do not see it as significant, and I hope our society can come together and do things right, including the government, because what we're presently nurturing is a society that exhausts crime and illiteracy, making education and good deeds seem irrelevant.
I'll love to say happy anniversary week to the Hive Ghana community.
All photos are mine.