By Ganiu Bamgbose, PhD
In a recent publication by some Nigerian newspapers, it was mentioned that the Minister of Education in Nigeria, Tahir Mamman, declared that “the Federal Government said more countries, including Uganda, Kenya and Niger Republic will be sanctioned following the suspension of accreditation and evaluation of degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo”. The minister further said “We will not stop at the suspension of certificates from Togo and Benin Republic alone. We are going to extend the suspension to other countries where such institutions operate.” While this is a good move as one would assume, the next big question is: how do we get it right beyond the suspension of certificates from other schools? A Yoruba proverb says “e je ki a le eleyoro lo, ki a to fi a bo fún adìye (Let’s deal with the fleas first then deal with the hens later). But sadly, ours is a country where the debate, blame and accusing finger are directed at the fleas until the next invasion. In this piece, I shall be addressing what lines of action the “hens” should take to forestall the subsequent invasion of the “fleas”.
First off, the quest or search for institutions outside the country by many Nigerians points at the over-glorification of certification in Nigeria. Knowledge is a product and certificate is supposed to be the receipt for it. Unfortunately in Nigeria, people are satisfied with possessing a receipt that they do not have any product to show for. One will assume that a product without a receipt to show for it can at least be used, what should anyone need a receipt for when no product is owned? This is the big question calling for answers and the answer is in overhauling the Nigerian education.
There is a need for the government and all stakeholders in education to foreground the fact that EDUCATION IS THE ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ATTITUDE AND VALUES WHICH MAKE ONE A USEFUL MEMBER OF A SOCIETY. While knowledge and skills can be called the hard skills of education, attitude and values are the soft skills and both kinds of skills are the determining qualities of an educated person, not just a certificate. This real essence of education can be achieved if we underplay the role of examination in our education and pay attention to practical and measurable improvement in students by ensuring that leaning takes place. Learning is a set of experiences which are expected to bring about a permanent change in a person’s behavioural pattern.
Learning is most effective when students or learners understand that they are not under any pressure to do so, and when they connect the essence of such knowledge to their well-being and the betterment of their lives. Finland is one of the countries with the best educational system in the world. It is reported that not until the sixth grade will children have the option to sit for a district-wide exam in Finland, and that is only if the classroom teacher consents to it. When teachers agree to participate, they mainly do so out of curiosity, and results are not publicised. A Finnish educationist, Louhivuori, remarked in an interview: “We know much more about the children than these tests can tell us.” Exams, at best, should help monitor students’ progression and how to ensure continuous progress. Consequently, it should not be used to determine who should be celebrated or not celebrated at the end of a term/session. A schooling system where children sit for exams from age two will expectedly be one where adults will pay for certificates.
Beyond the overhaul, there is a need for the Nigerian government to invest hugely in education. One may also want to say that there would be no basis for seeking education outside the country if there were sufficient higher institutions of learning in the country. The Punch Newspaper of June 9, 2023 reports thus: “The National Universities Commission revealed Friday that Nigeria now has 264 universities. The number includes universities owned by federal and state governments as well as private individuals and corporations”. Surprisingly, Germany, whose population is about half of the population of only the youth in Nigeria, boasts of over 400 universities. Will a citizen of such country not have to explain why they have to seek education elsewhere?
Sadly in Nigeria, even the insufficient universities are not adequately funded– absence of or ill-equipped laboratories, inconducive classrooms among several other shortcomings.
I wish to conclude this piece with another Yoruba proverb which says bi o ba nidi obirin oki je kumolu– this literally means if there is no reason a woman does not bear kumolu but as a proverb it means there is always a reason for people’s behaviours. While it is in place to condemn and sanction universities for issuing degree certificates unjustly, it is important to appraise the situation more holistically so as to achieve the desired change.
(c) 2024 Ganiu Bamgbose writes from the Department of English, Lagos State University.
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