The Story Of A Nigerian Public Education Graduate. I reminisce the first day i began my Primary One Class at the Pastor Adegboyega Memorial Primary School, Ketu. I was scared and unsure of what to make of schooling. I was six. It was a Public School apparently named after a Clergy. Then i finished my Primary School education in flying colours, having been Class Captain and Assist. Class Captain several times. I was enrolled at the Kosofe College, Mile 12, another Public School, for my Junior Secondary School where the Class Captain cap still fitted perfectly. I eventually became a Prefect at JSS 3. This was possible because the Senior Students had a different premises from the Juniors, and some form of government was necessary among the Juniors. Throughout my Junior Secondary education, i hardly bought textbooks. I more often leaned on class notes. Then i began my Secondary School Education in a different School known as Community Grammar School, Akowonjo fondly called Omiyale (yoruba for A flooded house). This was because whenever there was a heavy downpour, my school became a flowing river. I joke not! You could literally paddle a canoe or boat on it. On few occassions, some of my colleagues have had to paddle their way to the Classrooms. In most cases, a compulsory vacation was declared. I recall that the School once had a protest march to the State House then because of this. I didnt join the protest. Please note that throughout my SSS days, i didnt buy textbooks except for Literature classes since i had no choice. Hence, i disturbed my folks till they bought The gods Are Not To Blame, The African Child and, i think, The Marriage of Anansewa (?). Honestly, i was not in my best form in my Senior Secondary School days. Thanks to mischievous friends. In summary, i was lucky to enrol for a Diploma In Law at the Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State). We were initially 1,700 Candidates that registered for the Pre-Degree Programme, and the University needed just 50 Students for a Degree Course in Law. Yeah, you heard me. 50 Students! The battle began. In my first Diploma year, my tuition was #17,000+. Paying this then was an issue. I recall an experience during one of my Diploma Year 2 exams. My Dad was having issues paying my #14,000 (yeah you heard me) tuition, and i was going to be disqualified from the exams. I was restless, scared and despondent. My Dad had to come to Campus on an exam day to see the Lecturer in charge of Students Tuition. My Dad had to show this nice Lecturer his Payment (salary) slip, and then the Lecturer asked me to write an Undertaking, which i did, and i was allowed to write my exams. I didnt know my Dads salary then, but it did the magic. It must have been that bad. He was a NEPA Official. I made it. I read Law. I didnt graduate with my Collegues due to certain circumstances beyond my grasp. I relied more on Lecturers handouts and notes for my studies and exams, and a few tutorials. I didnt want to bother my struggling parents with too many academic demands, so i managed resources. When i was finally going to write my final Project, it was a friend in England that gave me the cash for my University Project. I later became the BestMan at his wedding. Of course, my Parents knew about the Project thing, but the cash wasnt coming on time, and i was running out of limited academic time. By the way, my Project score boosted my CGPA. When the time came for me to go to the Nigerian Law School, there was a brief family meeting as to how to fund my Tuition. It was just #130,000. It was eventually raised and i was able to have a stress-free academic session. If i had failed my Law School Exams, i would have had my NYSC (Now Your Suffering Commences) immediately! Interestingly, my one month salary today can pay this Tuition. Today, i am a Practising Lawyer. A product of the Nigerian Public Education System, 100%. Not Covenant, not Babcock, not Harvard, not Yale. 100% tax funded public schools. My Parents valued education all those times, but they were economically outclassed, and so i do not judge them for not sending me to any of those high-priced Education systems. They did their best. The point is: I am proud of me. I have not attained it all yet, but given the poor opportunities i had, id say i have not done badly. If our Public Education System can still produce my ilk, then hope looms. But the truth is, is this still possible today? In my time, Reality Dance/Music/Drama TV shows were not as popular as today. The Internet with its Social Platforms were not as endemic in our society as they are today. Too many distractions today. Whatever effort was required to revitalize our Public Schools in my time, twice that effort would be required today. Truth be told. Our Public Schools are not only deteriorating, our Culture is changing for the worse. But whatever does not break you can only make you, therefore i make bold to say to the Harvard and Yale graduates today: BRING IT! They may have more research materials than me, but surely not more intellect power. #truthisscarierthanreality Selah.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 21:01:31 +0000
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