Building a Better Educational Sector-part 2

This article is a response to a recent post-http://dkingzpen.blogspot.com/2013/07/building-better-educational-sector.html. One of my very good online friends and follower on twitter response to the post reads thus, “nice piece, but how do we change the attitude and mindset of people. It’s such a bewildering complex.”

For any meaningful and remarkable improvement to take place in our educational sector, we have to realize that no profession is inferior to the other, there are only different professions. Thus, the teaching profession should not be seen as inferior. It is in fact one of the most important in any human society.

I appreciate everyone that I have learnt from directly or indirectly, formally or otherwise thanks for contributing to my growth and development.

The experience I had during my compulsory national service year is one experience I will cherish for a life time. Although a challenging period, no thanks to post election crisis and the high level of insecurity.

My first day in that school brought tears to my eyes, I was so disappointed-I had never thought of teaching, I pitied myself! I couldn’t just comprehend seeing myself stay here for a year...chai!! Almost immediately, a voice within said, “…is your personal comfort more important that the lives and destinies at stake here?”

Although it was a tough decision to make and accept but at the end, I am happy I did.

 To have a better educational sector, we must be willing to sacrifice-no good thing come to be without sacrifice. Everyone cannot work in the bank, oil-company or become a CEO etc. the pay may not be attractive but the reward is worth it. Moreover, it not all about how much you earn, but how financially intelligent you have.

The good book says, “if the foundation be faulty what can the righteous do”? Unless we address the foundation of our beloved country, things will always remain the same and one of the ways of doing (building a better society) so is through the educational sector.

…a great nation needed to be built on a strong intellectual foundation.

                                                                        Chinua Achebe

There is the urgent need to return to the foundation i.e. the schools where the future leaders are built and correct their corrupted mindset, things will remain the same. We should imbibe in them the true VALUES of life and challenge them to embrace the right path.

The government may not do what we expect them to do. I wouldn’t blame them. They are a bunch of confused group without a clear vision and plan for the masses neither do they have any idea of what the future holds. If the government or our leaders refuse to do the right thing, there is nothing wrong in showing them what to do. It begins with you and I!
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Building a Better Educational Sector

Teachers occupy a very vital position in any society, everyone at one point or the other passed through teachers- nursery, primary, secondary and even tertiary institutions. No matter the position you occupy in the society today, a teacher must have taught on your way, except you’re a ghost (laughs).

Unfortunately, teaching is one of the most unappreciated professions in our society is teaching. Many see the teaching profession as a “no good” profession. This attitude has done a lot of harm to the educational sector of our beloved country.

To get the best out of teachers, certain things especially our attitude and mindset about the profession and the practitioners have to change. Teachers need to be more appreciated and at the same time, teachers should also see themselves as occupying a pivotal role in the society’s development and progress. One way or the other, what the society has become today points to how well the teachers have performed their professional and social responsibilities.

One of the key responsibilities of teachers is the capacity development of their wards. During my National service year, I realized how important the development of the capacity is. There was a particular student who had been written off due to his academic performance, I took interest in this boy and fortunately for him, I was made the Social Director. So apart from my primary assignment as a Corps member, I was charged with the responsibility of setting up and running the social activities of the school.

Fortnightly (on Fridays), we had our social activities and this boy had the opportunity to showcase his natural (comedy) talent and in no time, his (academic) performance improved to the bewilderment of all. I am deeply convinced that the opportunity that was given to this boy to exhibit his talent played a vital role in reawakening his battered self-belief which influenced his academic performance.

As a teacher, no matter how bad your student’s academic performance is it is your responsibility to bring him or her on track- getting the best out of him or her. At times, it could be due to some psychological effect, family issues, background etc. many factors are responsible for the performance of a student so, dear teacher help that child- inspire him to believe in himself.

On the other hand, parents and other stakeholders in this sector have roles to play. For our society to get better, we all must be willing to contribute-helping our brothers, sisters, children, neighbors out with things such as homework, extra lesson to mention a few.

 Gifts and other forms of reward will also go a long way in motivating that child to do better.

Members of the society, parents and guardians should also cultivate the habit of appreciating teachers- give them surprise visit, gifts, know and celebrate them on their special days. These are just few things we can do to appreciate and inspire these people (teachers).

Government and school owners, paying salaries and other entitlements (of Teachers) as at when due will go a long way in spurring them on for better performance not forgetting the importance of rewarding excellent performance among teachers. 

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