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Considering the importance of the educational process, parents, schools, students and indeed the Government should always review and reflect on this system to evaluate if it is producing the desired results.
The critical question to ask is: “Is our education preparing students to meet the demands and needs of the current world, be it social, economic, technological and many others?” It is important for all stakeholders to attempt to answer that question so that gaps can be identified and improved.
Off course, in terms of literacy rate, that is, the ability to simply read and write, we come second to none in Africa. An achievement we need to celebrate but also may be using it as a strong foundation to build upon for our educational system.
Reading and writing is not enough, education is more than just that. A wise man is on record for saying, “Education is what remains after what has been taught is forgotten.”
What education do our students remain with after completing their Ordinary and Advanced Level or even their degrees? Few people have much to point out to outside the certificate that the students attains after completion of their studies. This is a reflection on our education system and also may be even more important the attitudes of students.
Our high literacy rate often spurs great competition for good grades among students, as all students want to be able to proceed to the next level of education or get employment without much trouble. As such students employ any tactic so that they come out tops and proceed. The most common method used is what is widely known in the education sector among students as CPF (Cram, Pass and Forget).
This method is easy to use now more than ever as we are now living in the information age, where information can be made available at the click of a button or touch of a screen, with the speed of light. Unlike yesteryear students, today’s students have many aids to help them pass such as numerous books containing past exam question papers and their answers.
Though the information age has made education simpler and brought many advantages with it, it needs to be controlled. Schools and students need to ensure that the quality of education does not decline.
Unfortunately, most students especially those of a high IQ can just grab a Red Spot or Green Book a few days before the exams and memorise everything before they get in the exam room, then pass the exam but with the least understanding of what they are writing. This has made most students parrots, who can sing back anything they have learnt but with little knowledge of what it actually means.
The role of the education is greater than providing education certificates. Schools are entrusted institutions where students should be prepared to be better citizens who also contribute to the betterment and development of their societies in many and various aspects. The Oxford Dictionary defines education as, the process of giving intellectual, moral, and social instruction.
This means that schools should strive to produce well rounded students who are complete.
Instead of giving back just what they have been given; education should result in critical thinking abilities in students. Students should be able to generate and produce new knowledge, instead of continuing to recycle the same old information.
Tertiary institutions in particular must be hubs of research and development, where serious research for new information and technology is the order of the day. However, most students today will actually complete their studies without any serious attempt to produce any new information. Google indeed has made life simple, but perhaps what many forget is that in order for that information to be available someone had to create that content.
Our education system no longer matches the needs of industry and commerce, which impacts negatively on graduate students who are often unable to find employment because employers often prefer employees with experience to those with educational qualifications only. There is need to bring the educational system in line with the current demands.
More practical and hands-on education should be afforded to the students so that they have some level of practical experience that will help them perform in a work environment.
As the mid-year term begins in earnest, it is important that we all begin to reflect on whether our education system is providing the intended results so that we play our part.
Till next week, God bless you all.
Ciao…
l The writer is a motivational speaker. He can be contacted on [email protected]
Online Reporter