Let's get our education right

It's another day to remind Bola Almed Tinubu that the world is fast changing and national growth depends on proper education. We shall be reminding our continent the need to revisit our school curriculum. It's not just enough to know how to read and write. Having good grade isn't enough. In fact most of us who held so sway about reading only achieved good grades that has little or no meaningful contribution to what we do today. That's why greater number of African yowth would insist that school is a scam. During our high school, if you understood chemistry, biology and physics, then what comes to mind is going to college of medicine to study medical related courses, or at most study engineering, after which you will be employed in one of the government hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, construction companies etc.  If you understood government, literature, Civic education, CRS, English etc, then you already made up your mind to study law, political science, and few would go for economics.

One of my uncle's who  studied Political science  was already at the time working  with the National University commission and living what seems to me a perfect life. I had just wanted to go to school, graduate, get a job in one of the Nigerian legislative houses, get married and start living just like him. Those are the plans but Nigeria happened to me and the dream of working in the assembly now seems like a mirage. 

 I'm not saying that medicine, nursing, politics and even economics are not relevant. No! It's not just enough to graduate in those fields. In fact COVID distorted greater percentage of work pattern and big companies prefer its staff working from home. This in all honesty requires computer skill. Not just the basics. Such computer skills include but not limited to Excel, python, SQL, PowerBi, etc. So even if you're the best in your class, you still need some computer skills to unlock 21st century tides. Cyber security, data science , AI,  Business analysis and a host of others are the new fields that's gaining momentum. 

Well, it wasn't our faults, after all most of our parents never had the opportunity to even complete primary education, how much more knowing the relevance of computer skills.  My first time of seing a computer set was in 2007, meanwhile students of my age in India, China, Brazil, US are already familiar with computer codes.  If not  Modestus Ndubuisi Okwor-Igwe , most of us wouldn't have known what computer looks like till we get into the university.  you ever wondered why the Indians and Chinese are recording so high in their economic growth? 

In 2021, I had the privelege to speak to one of my Chinese friends who studies AI in one of the Russian universities.  He told me how he intend building an AI that can deliver lectures, make meals and serve it.  Sounds crazy right? 

I felt cold in my stomach. I couldn't think anything else than the condition of my university before we graduated. Aside the condition of the facilities, greater percentage of our lecturers carry themselves like demi gods such that a pass in their courses seem like making it in life. One of my lecturers then made it known to us that nobody makes an 'A' in his course. The audacity with which he says it to every class he was to teach is so annoying. which lecturer would be proud of his student not making an 'A' in his course? ' 

'A' that won't fetch you a good living? 'A' that won't even matter when you face the rest of the world? While it's good to make good grade, it's best to posses the necessary skill. Without defeating the essence of NYSC in Nigeria, government should make it compulsory for everyone who passes through the skill to enrol in at least 6 month computer certification course with which if you don't pass the practicals, you won't be issued your discharge certificate. That alone will awaken the tech consciousness of Nigerians and set them on the global pace.

 think africa,

think tech, 

talk tech, 

do tech!