Nigerian politicians send their children abroad because they know what education means in Nigeria. So let me explain to you like as a Nigerian would.
First of all, you need to understand that the educational system in Nigeria doesn’t operate the same way it does in the western world. In Nigeria, pupils resume school by 8 am and close by 3 pm, that is if your parents do not pay for the extra lessons that keep you in school till 5 pm. I must say, the time invested is not the problem like the lessons learned in schools. So for a pupil in primary school, which normally lasts for 9 years, he/she learns how to be respectful, how to never talk back or question results, and then basic things like, maths, English, social studies and all. Now this is not bad at all but there is much room for improvement at that level
Next up, pupils write an examination called “common entrance examination.” This tells if they’ve learned the essentials and progress to secondary schools which normally I last for 6 years. Pupils spend their first three years learning the same things and cramming more maths formulas, basic science, intro tech, and other subjects that they have no idea how to apply in the real world. I wondered why I had to learn the elements of the periodic table. Then after the first 3 years, they write another exam which is of no significance if you ask me but it’s called the “Junior WAEC exams.” Oh! I just remembered the results help the school counselor (if the school has one) to advise you ( more like dictate to you) which class you should go to; either science, art or commercial. Mind your history is only part of the curriculum for art students so don’t wonder why it seems like we don’t remember our history. Then you learn that way for three years. Finally, the students write the WAEC, JAMB, and NECO to know if they are qualified to go to a university or polytechnic or not.
Now, this is a very pivotal point in a child’s life. So at age 16, you could go to a private school if your parents are rich enough. Or you could attend a federal or state university or polytechnic. After those exams, you then write a post – UTME conducted by the school to decide If they want you or not.
If you’re in a private university, you are considered lucky because those schools do not go on strike like the other schools. I must also say that students pay heavily. However, the freedom of expression of kids in such schools is usually limited (don’t let me go into that).
In the other schools, the first thing you should know in such institutes is the word “strike.” As a student in one of these schools, I can tell you first hand that we have gone on strike for reasons as basic as the provision of light and water especially during exams, to reasons like the payment of salaries of workers; academic or non-, academic staff.
On a personal note, I finished secondary school in 2015 and wrote the necessary exams to get into a university of my choice. The academic session in the university commenced in February 2016 and did not end until December because we had struck. Now, in every session, there is a strike so let’s say I spent 1 year per academic session. So ideally, I should have finished school in 2019 but some strikes lasted longer than necessary. So yeah, there’s that. So I’m still a student waiting to finish school year so I can move on to the next thing.
Next is NYSC, which is compulsory if you’re going to work in Nigeria. So you must serve your country for 1 year. During that year, the government pays you 30,000 which is not enough to take care of your necessities but hey, this is Nigeria we’re talking about.
When we are done serving, we search for job opportunities that do not exist anymore. You technically have to “hustle” or do things for yourself as a Nigerian. Now, peradventure you want an 8–6 job all you same, you need to understand that those who study aboard will be employed before you’re even considered. And let’s not go the things that happen while in school.
The take-home is this, studying a course in Nigeria means almost, if not, nothing. There are mathematicians, psychologists, biochemists, physiologists, pure and applied chemists, industrial scientists, and many more who graduate from school to sell shoes and bags just to have food to eat each day.
This piece is culled from Quora website, https://www.quora.com
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