adminFor some, that was as far as their education went due to a number of reasons and circumstances beyond their control. Others managed to proceed to Advanced Level and they have attained or are working towards a first degree or diploma. But very few people have taken the time to study for a Masters degree or a Doctorate.
Although many wish for the titles such as “Doctor” or “Professor” as acknowledgement of their academic achievements, to most it remains a dream.
A significant number of people become content with modest educational qualifications and do not look forward to achieving more. They give excuses relating to other commitments or lack of time and are ignorant of the fact that education is a life-long endeavour.
There is no age limit to which someone should further their education because education develops a perspective of looking at life, helps build opinions and points of view on things in life.
It remains debatable whether or not a university degree could be used as a yardstick to measure success. To some, a degree is key to success but to others it is not necessarily a priority for achieving prosperity.
A first degree is an admirable achievement, a pride for anyone who attains it. It is a lifetime certificate that no one can take away.
Miss Nesisa Dhlamini (24) who is doing her final year of study at the National University of Science and Technology said she had decided to pursue a university education because the world today requires her to.
She said having a university degree puts one at an advantage when trying to penetrate the job market.
“Previously, just doing your Ordinary Level was enough and later Advanced Level became a prerequisite. Now people need a college education to get good jobs or to be promoted at work,” said Miss Dhlamini.
She said to date, it was now even more important to study further for a Masters degree because a significant number of people were now studying for undergraduate degrees.
“The world is quickly changing and there is now the challenge of studying further than your first degree,” said Miss Dhlamini.
People debate over the subject of whether or not education is the only thing that gives knowledge arguing that education is the process of gaining information about the surrounding world while knowledge is something very different.
Mrs Bonnie Nleya (34) said she had a diploma in marketing obtained at a local college. She is employed as a marketing officer by a local commercial company.
Mrs Nleya said she wished she could go back to school and study for a degree because she believes it would create opportunities for her.
“The only way to get promotion is to have high academic and professional qualifications. Many young people are now going to university and my diploma is no longer as valued as it used to be.
“It has become more important than ever to have a degree because of the high unemployment rate in the country. The more qualified you are, the higher the chances you have to get a good job,” she said.
Mrs Nleya said it was never too late to go back to school as long as one was determined to achieve his or her goal. She said it was because of this realisation that she had decided to go to university and study for a degree herself.
Education is believed to be the basis of culture and civilisation. It is instrumental in the development of values and virtues and cultivates people into mature individuals who are capable of planning for the future and taking the right decisions in life. It arms people with an insight into their lives and teaches them to learn from experience.
The future of a nation is safe in the hands of educated individuals. It is important for the economic growth of a nation and fosters principles of equality and socialism as well as forming a support system for individuals to excel in life.
Today’s employers want employees that have high academic and professional quallfications. Mr Paul Moyo (47), a vegetable vendor, said he appreciated the importance of education but said not everyone had access to formal learning.
He said he failed his Ordinary Level and did not bother to repeat because he was generally not good with words and numbers so he decided to work for a living.
Mr Moyo said he worked at a local factory for a couple of years before starting his own business.
“I decided to start my own thing in 2002 and I have been doing very well selling vegetables. I could have decided to further my education but I realised I was not that good academically so I decided to work instead of wasting more time.
“With my vegetable business, I am able to take care of my family and provide for their needs. I encourage my children to study hard despite the fact that I did not go far with my education,” he said.
Although it is true that one can achieve success without a college education, a literate population is a nation’s asset especially with the coming of improved information communication technologies.
Online degree programmes help adults pursue education even while working. Distance education has proven to be of help for those who are unable to attend classes.
Most countries have realised this and it has led to many government-aided educational programmes and government grants to schools and colleges with the motive of fostering education in society.
In Zimbabwe, Presidential, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and Capernaum scholarships have played a pivotal role in making sure that deserving pupils and students are educated. Zimbabwe has an adult literacy rate of approximately 92 percent, which is the highest in Africa.
However, since 1995 the adult literacy rate in African countries in general has steadily decreased.
There are shining examples of leaders that have taken the initiative to educate themselves despite their advanced ages. They include Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu who recently graduated with a PhD in Policy Studies, and Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe who graduated with a Masters in Business Administration.
Dr Mpofu said when he started studying for his PhD many people would ask him why he still wanted to further his education when he had already achieved success and held prominent positions in society.
He said people used to ask him what he needed the PhD for but because of his belief that education is priceless and one can never be too educated, he was not discouraged by such comments.
“My son jokingly said that I would need the PhD to revise the Bible once I get to heaven,” said Dr Mpofu, who completed his PhD in Policy Studies with the Zimbabwe Open University.
When some people were five years old they wanted to grow up and become Disney princesses, at 13 years old musical artists and performers, but now they wish they could just stay in bed all day and get paid for it.
But the sad thing is that they cannot, so they choose to go to school to learn, gain knowledge and acquire skills.
There are different levels to which a person can be educated, with different degrees to be acquired outside the university degree, but this depends on their field of study, and if they choose to end up with a white collar job.
Like the old adage goes, knowledge is power, and the more degrees one acquires, the broader it expands their chances of getting a good job and aiming higher in their professional careers.
However, it cannot be said that there are no successful people in our society today without university degrees, which shows that although a university degree is necessary it should just be regarded as just a stepping stone to success and nothing more.
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Online Reporter