FREE EDUCATION in Kwara State: A Facade

 I know I am quite new at this, I have no professional experience in writing, but I'll try to pass my message across to the few who are going to read this.

 What exactly is Free Education? Well, to me, the word "Free" connotes the absence of a monetary or material reward for a service rendered. While "Education" is a process of teaching, training and learning, especially in a school or college. (Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary). Simply put, Free Education is the process of teaching, training and learning in a school or college, where applicable, for free.

 To my utter dismay and naively, shock, what has been termed "Free Education" as is obtainable in some states in Nigeria is not more than a waste of time and resources. It would shock some (not all), to know that this "Free Education" is just a waste of time, manpower, and most importantly, resources.

 In Kwara State, in the government-owned schools where this Free Education is executed as a policy, it is quite exasperating that the level of development in the educational sector is still at an all time low, and is still falling. I wouldn't want to make accusations, since I am not in possession of some figures that would buttress my inner thoughts, but its glaring that the ricochet effect of the government's nonchalant attitude towards paying its teachers, also affects the service delivery of these teachers, and ultimately resulting in the production of "unbaked" (half-baked is an understatement) students in the long run.

  Now, as a mere observer, I have noticed that a majority of these teachers have the knowledge to pass on, but don't have the appropriate tools to pass this message on. Its a given that such states as Kwara State is heavily populated by Yoruba speaking people; but where does a teacher get off teaching a primary school kid in that same language, continuing the trend even up until secondary level. Then you have a Senior Secondary School Two student who writes what he sees on the board, and yet cannot put together a readable sentence!

 While I believe in the essence of preserving what's left of the Nigerian Culture, I strongly believe that if education is going to be Free, it should also be of good quality. It is not just enough for the government to provide free education on the surface, and then underneath, the educational system is destroyed as a result of the lack of dedication on the part of the teachers.

 Another issue is the unwillingness of these students to be educated. Looking closely, one can see that most of these students who are mandated to go to school function better in other areas like Farming, Tailoring, Apprentices, and others. In my opinion instead of launching "free education" schemes for people who have no interest whatsoever in schooling, the Kwara State Government should invest more in developing the potentials of these kids. If they prefer to farm rather than go to school, equip them to be farmers, then you can talk of educating them on new farming methods and see what happens...

  I only hope our leaders stop seeing only the light in their personal lives and work towards the common good in its entirety.

Minerva...