allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Education in Nigeria - Breeding Ignorant Citizens (Page 1 of 2)

'HELLO? This is Metro FM. Who are we speaking with and where are you speaking from, please?" "I'm .... and I'm speaking from .... in Lagos."

"Good. Please pick a number for me from 1-15, and answer the question. Is that alright?" "Yes. I pick the number ..." "Alright. Here's the question. 'In which country did the Industrial Revolution first occur in the world?'" "Er, in Saudi Arabia," said the radio listener. "No, it was in Britain. Sorry, bye." "Good bye."

"Hey! Does that listener know anything about Saudi Arabia?" asked a friend who was listening to this programme with me. "How can industrial revolution have started there? With the stringent laws there, how can anyone or, any group of people dare start a revolution of any kind? That listener's response shows ignorance of international matters.

If she were conversant with what obtains in other countries, she wouldn't mention Saudi Arabia. She would mention a country in the western world of development; knowing where those countries are coming from." "I think the lady tried,"

I said. "She obviously didn't understand the question and has never heard of the Industrial Revolution. She heard the word 'revolution' and she thought of the seat of a religion whose adherents are quite passionate about their beliefs."

"I don't believe you. How can't she have heard of the Industrial Revolution? Didn't she learn it as part of History, either in Primary or Secondary School? In our days it was a vital topic which was taught us for an entire term and you just had to become acquainted with it."

"That was then. We're talking about Nigerians of these days. I'm sure many people don't know what the Industrial Revolution was, as their teachers didn't know either, and so, couldn't have taught them.

That lady tried; at least, she mentioned a country." "If the topic is that remote, those who put the radio quiz together wouldn't have included it. It's such a shame."

"It may no longer be in the school syllabus, and as such it's no longer being taught. Maybe our education experts don't think it's necessary for our children to know about what led to the growth of industries." We continued listening to the programme.

"Which country is called the Sugar Bowl of the World?" asked the anchorman. "Sugar Bowl?" asked a listener. "Er, I don't know." "It's Cuba. Sorry, you didn't win. Thanks for participating." "I didn't know the exact answer to that," my friend admitted.

"But I assumed it would be a West Indian country, since the West Indies was known for their sugarcane plantations, where slaves were taken to from Africa to work."

"You're not far wrong. Cuba is in that area too. In the days when Geography and History of the world were taught seriously, this listener would have known about those sugarcane plantations and mentioned a country in that area, even if it's not known as the Sugar Bowl."

"Which event in the Bible supports the superstition in the western world that the number 13 is unlucky?" the anchorman asked another participant. "Er, er, I don't know the answer to that one."

'Let me help your memory a bit," said the anchorman.

"Remember the last supper that Jesus had with His disciples in an upper room?" "Yes, I do." "Good. How many people were present on the occasion?" "Er,er, I don't know." "It was 13. Jesus and the twelve apostles. Sorry. Bye."

"Hm! That person could be pardoned, as she may not be of the Christian faith and doesn't know about the Last Supper. But again, in our days, you read books on other religions," observed my friend. "I attended a missionary school, but we read the story of Prophet Mohammed, as indeed the Moslems in that school read about Jesus.

It was all part of History. Learning seem to be restricted these days, and we churn out graduates whose knowhdge of the world and even their environment is very narrow. That's a pity."

Responsible manner

That's the view of most Nigerians of the 'old' school. Not too long ago when teaching was handled in a very responsible manner, pupils were eager to learn, and the teachers were eager to impart knowledge, to the advancement of the society.

The education process has been undergoing many changes over the years, but these changes have not been of benefit to our children, or to the nation. Take the English language. Holders of the first school leaving certificates in the sixties and even the seventies have a better knowledge of it, and speak it more correctly, using the right verbs, adjectives and tenses, than our university graduates of nowadays.

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