NIGERIA EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

The Nigerian education system is deeply dysfunctional, not funny. The devastating consequence of this failure is evident. Children spend 6 years in primary school and another 6 years in secondary school, yet many cannot read basic literature like 'Sugar Girl' or write a coherent one-page essay.

Don't believe me, conduct a simple test; gather 400 NYSC members in a hall and ask them to write a one-page essay. I suspect you'd be shocked by how few could genuinely complete the task successfully. The fault doesn't lie with the universities. Universities train professionals; they shouldn't be teaching basic literacy. The foundational failure happens much earlier  in primary school.

Consider the absurd burden placed on young children. Primary school pupils are forced to carry 16 books daily. Instead of focusing on essential skills like reading fluently, writing clearly, calculating accurately, designing, and problem-solving, these children spend their crucial learning years mechanically copying notes. Public primary school teachers are overwhelmed, forced to create countless lesson notes for an excessive 16 subjects. This cycle of note copying continues unchecked into secondary school.

The comparison is stark. Research shows that nursery pupils in China often demonstrate more advanced foundational skills and learning approaches than many secondary school students in Nigeria. Our system prioritizes cramming over critical thinking. We produce graduates, like many Political Science students, who may excel at comedy skits under ring lights but lack the capacity for deep analysis or creation. Where are our generations of writers and innovators. Meanwhile, nations like Iran invest strategically, becoming global leaders in producing engineering graduates.

The result, we see individuals who can deliver polished English complaints on camera but lack the critical thinking skills to propose or implement meaningful solutions. This systemic failure demands urgent, fundamental reform, starting with the foundation our primary schools.

Until the moment when will shall dance in white Greater Grace.