State of The Nigerian Educational System

This shameful practice is generally called “BLOCKING” – using money or kind (in the case of female students) to block a course so as not to fail it.  The popular slogan among students is “You read to know and block to pass”. It has now even gotten to a stage were lecturers and students now negotiate price for grades as traders haggle over prices in the market. Some lecturers even go as far as asking if a student wants “a chief  title” (meaning if he or she can afford or pay for A grade). This is why the unfortunate students who neither have cash or payment in kind to offer to such lecturers would have to read, research and endure the rigours of writing examination. Despite their hard work, they sometimes find themselves earning lower grades. Others resort to examination malpractices known as “bombing” or “bullets”.

It is no wonder, therefore, that the Nigerian university system produces every year ill-educated, incompetent, kleptomaniac, murderous and fraudulent graduates. The so-called leaders of tomorrow are deficient in learning and in character. Nigeria is doomed if her future rests in the hands of such graduates.  Our political leaders do not seem to bother beyond paying the usual lip-service to the problems. Many of them have of course stolen enough public funds to send their children to expensive private schools abroad. But as long as things continue to get worse, the country will not be safe for them to continue to exploit or safe for their children to return to.

As gloomy as the situation is right now, it is not a hopeless one.. We must not give up. We must say No to those who seek to destroy our future. We must redeem the collective soul of our nation. We must prepare for the great battle ahead. Now that we know the problem, we must work together to change it. There is always purpose for every situation.

We must speak out against this rot in our educational system. There should be a sense of outrage. Silence means acquiescence. Students must refuse to pay for grades either in kind or in cash. We must vow never to indulge in examination malpractices. We must realize that hard work is the only way to success in life. In the mosques and church, we must continue to seek righteousness and pray against living a sinful life. We must convince ourselves that we deserve a better educational system in this country. As we continue in struggle, let us never forget the wisdom of working together to make our society a better one. Unity, they say, is strength. Divided we fall, but united we stand.