21st May, 2013
The recent mass failure recorded in the WASCE, NECO and JAMB examinations is a sign of the turbulent times we are in. And it calls for concern considering the fact that it affects the youths who, in popular parlance, are regarded as the leaders of tomorrow. The poor result, succinctly put, means the future of this country is bleak.
While there has been a hue and cry about the colossal failure, the truth is that it is not coming as a surprise because philistinism, decay in moral values and corruption have eaten deep into the fabric of our society over time. And these are reflected in the way we lead our lives and conduct ourselves in public everyday.
The recent alarm raised by members of the House of Representatives in the wake of the mass failure recorded in the Joint Tertiary Matriculation Examination, JTME, is not only tantamount to putting the cart before the horse but it also reminds us of the fire brigade attitude of government to pressing national issues.
Though the introduction of computer by JAMB is one of the causes of the mass failure as the members of the House of Representatives pointed out, that reason is not tenable. While it is true that the majority of the students are not computer literate, the fact is, we are all to blame as there has been a gradual erosion of the values in the education sector and other facets of life in the country over time.
And it is horrendous that our leaders, who are supposed to give the masses a sense of direction and show exemplary conduct are pointing fingers at some individuals and institutions.
Because of the philistinism, moral decay and corruption in our society, the culture of indolence has been deeply entrenched. Everybody wants to get rich quick and nobody wants to work hard anymore. And since the youths see politicians and fraudsters, who corruptly enrich themselves, celebrated in our society, they regard hard work and burning the proverbial midnight oil as sheer waste of time.
What about the proliferation of private schools where students are encouraged to cheat to pass examinations and lack of qualified teachers? Public schools that were known for high educational standards are now centres of mediocrity. Youths these days are so engrossed in following sporting activities such as the English Premiership and the Spanish La Liga that they do not have time to read. The craze for the social media is also responsible for this mass failure. Students spend most of their time on the social media such as facebook, twitter, google plus, etc. rather than face their books.
In the light of all these negative tendencies, it is very glaring that it is not just the educational system that needs an overhaul but the entire society. If the government wants to get things right, there is an urgent need to re-orientate the youths and teach them moral values and the benefits of hard work. Social institutions such as the family, the church, mosques, etc. also have salient roles to play in this regard. Until this is done, whatever measures government takes would be tantamount to putting the cart before the horse.