adminFredrick Qaphelani Mabikwa Successful Solutions
I WAS very humbled recently when I met an old lady who has since retired (65 years) and is still pursuing a degree programme with a South African University. We had a close discussion and naturally I asked what she needed a degree for since she has retired. She informed me that it has always been her desire attain a degree and until she achieved that she would die a very miserable woman. She just wanted to fulfil a childhood dream.
In my last two articles I was looking at examinations. In this article I want to discuss the importance of adult academic growth. Zimbabwe is top in Africa in terms of education. We are sitting at number one with a literacy rate of 90.7 percent followed by Equatorial Guinea in second place with a literacy rate of 87 percent and in third place with literacy rate of 86.4 is South Africa.
This means that in the population of those over 16 years, on average 9 people out of 10 can read and write in Zimbabwe. This is a marvellous achievement for our dear country. Now we all have a basic education that was afforded by our parents. There is need to improve from there and reach the highest possible level with our education. This is personal growth. Working at a university, I have since realised that most young adults are doing something. In the evening people are in colleges and universities studying in parallel programmes. People take leave at work to go and attend block programmes. The irony I have noted is that most of these people who are studying are those we think are “okay.” Those we think should be studying are not doing anything. I don’t know maybe it’s a question of affordability of education.
I want to urge all Zimbabwean young adults to have that drive in them to attain the highest possible level of education. If possible at least a first degree. This will see our country maintain that top spot in education ratings in Africa and naturally fuel development because one of the most important economic resources of a country is a sound human resource base. The country now has 12 universities from just one at Independence. All major towns have a university now. I have since realised that most employers now need 5 “O” levels for basic posts like security guards and cleaners. This means that in the not so far distant future a first degree will be a prerequisite for employment in any reasonable job. By the way it’s not only “A” level that gets you to do a degree. ‘A” level is the traditional route. You can go via the diploma route. You do a recognised diploma and that qualifies you for a degree.
A young security guard I am close to at my work place is now going to enrol for a degree. He first did a certificate in Security Management and went on to do a diploma in Development Studies which he has passed and is enrolling for the degree. I asked his friend another security guard who I suspect is just enjoying his beer why he was not doing Security Management and he said he had no money, he would start next year. Now no one has the money. Only a few people have money. Next year might not come, something will crop up and you say again “I will start next year…” before you know it you are 60 and “you are starting next year…”.Learning is all about sacrifice. You really have to stretch that dollar, even if it means changing your life style to accommodate education.Education is the only thing one can claim total ownership of. When you die your education is not part of the deceased’s estate. Your children can not claim it but they can fight over your wealth. Education doesn’t depreciate like property. It has permanent open security; it is not something that you can lose through theft and other such things. Investment in education is priceless. You cannot put a price tag on the value of education. I repeat it’s just priceless. Do not therefore hesitate to invest in education.
You find someone is working at a university or any other related college where there have a staff benefit to improve themselves and they sit on the benefit and don’t do anything. Someone has a staff fees benefit at the workplace and again they sit on it. When other people get promoted in the workplace or they move to better jobs, you say they are lucky.No, they are not lucky they have worked hard and have improved themselves.
I have a word for bosses on the issue. I am kindly asking bosses to allow their subordinates to improve themselves. Some of us bosses are very jealous. We stifle efforts by our subordinates to improve themselves because sooner they will be challenges to us. We deny them study leave and just create very difficult conditions for them to pursue further studies. Recently, I met a lady who had been denied leave to write exams. She was only given time to go to the exam and thereafter straight back to work. This is very bad-in fact evil. This is tampering with people’s rights. If you are a dull boss, who has not achieved much in terms of education and you can’t read and improve yourself, it’s not the fault of your talented subordinates.
Improving yourself academically is not only for employment purposes. In some cases it’s for self-actualisation-remember Marslow’s hierarchy of needs. Remember the old lady who said she was getting a degree just to fulfil a childhood dream. I know rich people who are studying. It’s good to be rich and educated. Money can be dangerous in the hands of the illiterate. Attaining an advanced education is really all about feeling complete and feeling good about one’s achievements. Education changes character. Education makes you more rational. It makes you humble. Most people who I know with a good education are very humble. Why are educated people humble? It is because the higher you go on the education ladder the more you realise that they are many things you don’t know and that makes you humble.
Those educated people who are pompous. “I am a Doctor . . . I am a Professor …” are those who started from the doldrums and struggled with their education getting their qualifications at advanced ages-terrible characters to say the least. We all know that you are a Doctor or a Professor. The moment you find yourself always reminding people that you are a Doctor or a Professor then some of us know that there is something wrong somewhere with your qualification.
Nothing is impossible. Where there is a will there is a way. Stand up and be counted among the educated and if possible, the degreed.
Online Reporter