Teachers say negative foreign morals toxic to Nigerian culture, education system
Olufemi made the assertion on Thursday when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the activities to mark the 2017 World Teachers Day.
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Olufemi made the assertion on Thursday when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the activities to mark the 2017 World Teachers Day.
He said that allowing western civilisation and global trends to influence negatively the morals of students was detrimental to the education system as they were against the people’s culture.
Olufemi said that when education was introduced to the African setting, the colonial masters did not tamper with the culture of the society; instead, they embraced and encouraged it.
“First and foremost, there is no society without its origin, culture, norms and values, but along the line, we started eroding our own culture by borrowing foreign cultures.
“Adoption of foreign culture into our curriculum is damaging and counter-productive. We are Africans and not white, we have our own way of doing things.
“You look at our values and culture; they are the best in the world.
“The question is, why are we copying? Discipline in our schools now is nothing. We have no right to correct students by beating them. How will they respect us?
“Our education is not at its best because we left our indigenous practices for the foreign. The use of cane is now regarded to as barbaric,’’ he said.
Olufemi said though he was not calling for the re-introduction of the use of cane, yet, discipline should be seen as part of educational development.
“Although I am not calling for the re-introduction of cane, yet discipline should be seen as part of educational development. The role of discipline cannot be overstated in the development of a child.
“Discipline allows for trust between the teachers and students. When it comes to discipline, gone are the days when students tremble at the sight of their teachers.
“Nowadays things have changed, no respect, no regard, for how long will we live like that? The freedom being enjoyed by the student is too much; it has desecrated our moral values.
“If want good output from the schools, then, we should go back to the basics,’’ he said.
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