ADVERTISEMENT

How Nigerians were educated in 60/70s compared to now

Getting jobs before graduation was a thing in the 70s, but today, the new graduates are at the mercy of who they know to get a job.

The joy of celebrating the 57th independence shouldn't be complete if as a country the students- the future of the country are not happy with the situation of things.

ADVERTISEMENT

Education is the bedrock of national development, so they say, but that would have been very right if the academic foundations laid by the founding fathers of the country had been sustained.

While many students are basking in the independence anniversary of the country, some senior citizens are only shaking their heads in self-pity for the youths because the youths do not know what they have lost in terms of quality education.

Truly, the bulk of the students in higher institutions across the country may not know the degree of the damage the education system has suffered.

ADVERTISEMENT

It is may seem difficult for them to believe Nigerian universities were once a model for other African higher institutions  because the epileptic relationship between ASUU and the Federal Government has always denied them the best of education.

Pulse Nigeria spoke with senior citizens who attended schools when History as a subject was more important than Religious Studies in our school syllabus . They shared the good news about what it takes to be a student then, but the state of education in 2017 is the direct opposite of the good memory they have to share.

The former Governor of Oyo state, Victor Omololu Olunloyo , who was also a two-time commissioner of education recalled how Nigeria had one university that was better than many universities we have now. He recalled how Obafemi Awolowo's free and compulsory education sparked development in 1965.

The former governor also reminisced the good days when there was no ASUU strike to disrupt academic calendars and how several jobs used to await students even before they graduated.

It is very true that Nigerians students used to get jobs even before they graduated. When I graduated I had several jobs. I was interviewed for Shell's job in London, an oil company, to work in Shell's Holland branch. I had another one at the University College, and another one in Zaria

ADVERTISEMENT

Former acting registrar, Pharmacist Council of Nigeria, Mrs. Gloria Abumere is another lucky Nigeria who received her primary, secondary and tertiary education when the country had not been polarized.

Recalling the good ol days, she spoke glowingly about how school united students from different backgrounds without class segregation. She also mentioned how schools in the 70s were established to teach moral values and not to exploit parents.

She said, In 1972 when I was in form 5 government took over some schools and most of the schools we had that time were missionary schools and most of our teachers were what you would call sane people, who believe in God and taught values. It is not like now when everything is diluted. These were Christian schools that were not set up to exploit our parents.

However, the good academic memories they enthusiastically shared with a young Nigerian have been stamped out of the academic environment. All sort of things happen in the university today from intimidation to sexual harassment.

The ex Governor in his estimation of the system regretted the degeneration of the Nigerian education heightened by the establishment of many mushroom universities across the country.

ADVERTISEMENT

"There is a proliferation of Universities now, especially the so called Private Universities. Some of them are good and some of them are nothing to write home about. There are too many universities now because of Politics. Before you set up any higher institution of learning, you must consider the quality of the students you want to produce".

It seems like the many higher institutions we have were established to reduce the standard, because the rate at which Universities and Polytechnics are set up in Nigeria is not in consonance with the quality of education students receive in these schools.

Again, these Institutions are fond of admitting students beyond their infrastructural capacity. This has led to schools shunning out thousands of graduates year in year out. As an ex commissioner for education, Olunloyo could not hide his feeling about the falling standard of education in Nigeria.

A lot has changed about University system in  Nigeria. The university is like any other system with input and output. The input and out has changed. The numbers and the quality as well as the university entrance exams have all changed. The quality from Primary to secondary schools and the university has dropped. The quality in various subjects have also fallen. Look at the quality of subject like history which has just been restored. How can you have a country without history?

While job opportunity is a major problem confronting Nigerian graduates today, it was in the 70s a reward for completing a higher education. The battle between job and graduates today is an endless one, as government makes zero efforts to rescue university and polytechnic graduates from the grip of unemployment. In a country where the government is not willing to create any job, graduates are at the mercy of who they know in a company to get a job.

ADVERTISEMENT

Olunloyo testifies to the abundance of jobs available for graduates in the 60s.

It is very true that Nigerians students used to get jobs even before they graduated. When I graduated I had several jobs. I was interviewed for Shell's job in London, an oil company to work in Shell Holland branch. had another one at the University College, another one in Zaria. That is manpower development. The kind of Industry we had and the kind of production we had were fantastic.

Mrs. Abumere also reminisced how easy it was to get job on completion of university or polytechnic education.

"I remembered the Police Force and the Army came to the schools to recruit people. Life  is an adventure to me, so I did go for the interview but I am small in stature. So when I entered they all started laughing they said they have a certain height for the recruitment and I told them I am still growing. The Army offered me employment but my dad didn't like it. Some of my classmates joined the army and a few of them joined the police, because they came to the campus to interview and to recruit''

Going by the account of the senior citizens on the state of education in the 70s, there is no doubt that the present academic system is the bastardized version of the legacy of the founding father of Nigeria.

ADVERTISEMENT

Unlike the Godly teachers that taught the likes of Mrs Abumere, sexual harassment and rape culture has left the street and found their way to schools. There have been stories of teachers and lecturers harassing female students.

There have been instances when university students receive lectures under the tree because there are no enough classrooms, and of course there have been many ASUU strikes meant to improve the university system but slow down the progress of the students.

There have also been instances when religion has caused disunity among students and ultimately, Job after graduation is never guaranteed again. These are reasons why no student should revel in the flag waving exercise.

Nigeria will do well if the values and benefit our parents enjoyed in higher institutions in 60s and 70s are restored and unless the academic system is rejigged,  independence anniversary  in the education sector will amount to celebration of the lost values and fallen standard of quality education in our higher institutions.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT