The Snatch of the Education System -By Esther Pius Ekong

The transition to adulthood has been desperately omitted or snatched by those in the better position to protect it. There seems to be an unresolved misunderstanding and unchecked interference of duties by parents, thus leading to a struggle for dominance and control in a sector meant for experts. This struggle by parents has created deviant children that must be tolerated and put up with by the labour market and society, due to loss of control and compromise in the process of learning. The upbringing of a child is not the responsibility of the parents only, the teachers who spend a greater part of the day with them must play their part with minimal interference and by extension, the community in which the child grows in, also teaches the sacredness of the custom and tradition of the people. This is to lay more emphasis to the words of the Tiv people of Benue State that, “Ka mbamaren tseegh ve tsahan wanye ga”, which also align with the Yoruba proverb that “Àgbà kìí wà lọ́jà k’órí ọmọ tuntun wọ́”. There is no designated place for discipline and learning.

Education was not just centered on academic excellence as it is today, but involved the inculcation of good morals and virtues, how to handle and understand failure, so that success can be appreciated, managed and sustained. Every learning process begins from the home which is the first school of knowledge acquisition. The importance is demonstrated by the grandmother who allows the cries of a newborn to linger to strengthen the lungs and clear airways. This and many more are what the new mother is taught during “Nkugho Uman” as called by the Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom State or “Omugwo” by the Igbos, before the new mother is entrusted with the care of the newborn. These days, the Nkugho Uman starts from the creche or day care, which is now the first school. Every child is the symbol of a new generation, therefore, the foundational stage to a stable growth and development should not be sabotaged or omitted.

The educational transition of children used to be on a class-by-class basis, and classes were repeated for failure to satisfy the academic requirement of the present class and to meet up with the standard of the next class. This was not subject to negotiation, discussion or dialogue. Parents understood the importance of “a learning process” and not “mere school attendance”, with certificates strange to the owner or bearer. There was compliance because there was no room for compromise or negotiations, because there was separation and understanding of roles and responsibilities. On the other hand, school management ensured that children with poor academic performance repeated classes to learn. It was the policy and parents complied, because school authorities allow parents who refused to comply with established principles and standards to withdraw their wards. Sadly, the reverse is the case today.

The Child’s Rights Act, 2003 makes provisions for the general welfare of every child, but it is mostly used in cases of sexual abuse, custody and paternity disputes etc. Weeks ago, Felicia and I saw a female student, shocked by her stature and unkempt appearance, we walked up to her and asked her age and class. She said, “I am nine years old and in JSS 2”. Is it fair on her? Yes, schools permitted double promotion in rare circumstances, and the child involved is monitored closely to ensure there were no lapses in his general welfare. Where it appears the child cannot cope, he is returned to class-by-class transition. It was not all about academic performance. To our nine years old friend in JSS 2, has she lived her childhood to be forced into an adult stage and harsh environment with deception masked as care, love and concern? I have a childhood that I fondly remember, most children do not have such an opportunity to enjoy the tricks and mischievousness of their classmates and the bond formed class by class transition. It is a fact that some parents request that their children be promoted from primary one to three or from primary three to five, and in the worst scenario, write a common entrance examination from primary three. This goes against the educational system of 6:3:3:4: which parents are reprogramming to 5:3:2:4 or 4:2:2:4 or 3:2:0:4 or 5:3:0:4. This trend continues into secondary school, from SS1 or SS2, some students are registered for West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). If a child finishes secondary school at 14 years and has to wait for two or more years to gain admission into a tertiary institution, why then the rush? Why then the snatch?

The foundational education stage of a child should and must not be rushed or omitted. It is a stage that leads and prepares the child for adulthood. Adulthood is another phase of life that needs adequate preparation, careful and detailed guidance. Most children do not understand that there are consequences for actions and consider discipline as wickedness. The 9 years old in JSS two, who obviously was rushed, lacks knowledge of certain classes she skipped, throwing her into a state of imagination and confusion. As a matter of fact, there are children who do not want to skip classes, but their parents are quick to remind them of Ephesians 6:1 which says, “Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do”, to subdue a child who innocently wants to protect his childhood from been snatched. These parents also forget that Ephesians 6:4 says: “Parents do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry. How does a 9 years old handle or manage distractions from the opposite sex and other conflicts, even amongst her classmates? How does she manage the psychological detachment from her classmate or schoolmate? Is she psychologically, socially, morally and educationally prepared to be in JSS two? For comfortable parents who can afford private tertiary institutions or overseas education, age restriction matters less. Children are complaining of depression because they are psychologically, socially, morally and educationally overloaded. Connections among peers are lost and reconnection to the next phase is strange and full of confusion.

These days reasons for double promotion or dangerous class omissions can be likened to delay in child bearing, late marriage, economic pressure, financial management, waiting employment, unhealthy competition etc. A period to spend with peers, learn basic rules of life, quarrel and resolve conflicts, fight, if need be, pull tricks, play games, etc. is brutally snatched. At the forced adult stage, serious issues of life are now mere jokes leading to collapse of institutions, in line with the maxim “Subla Fundamento cadit opus” and the book of Proverb 14:12:“There is a path that seems right to a man, but the end is destruction. Teachers are complaining of rebellion, threats, assaults, rape, molestation, disobedience, nonchalant attitude towards academic activities, extreme poor hygiene, lateness, poor morals etc. The reality is that most female students are on birth control (the first time I saw an implant was on the arm of a 17 years old girl in the correctional center), drugs and practice different sexual escapades and fantasies. Their male counterparts are also into drugs, cybercrimes, pornography, betting etc. While speedily blaming the government for educational failures and related matters, it is fair to also consider roles played by parents, teachers and society at large. To the young, the Akipedi/Okopedi people of Okobo Local Government in Akwa Ibom State say, “Apuk toie ko opu mfang akonu nsek”.

Punctuality is now obsolete, children go to school at 9am, 10am or even 12pm and are received by the school with smiles. The importance of being on the assembly ground has been buried. What they say about “Punctuality is the soul of business” struggles for relevance. Life is a business! A lot of parents treat their children from infections contacted on a weekly or monthly basis from children with poor hygiene habits. Teachers are supposed to carry out daily routine checks, class by class on the assembly ground, starting from the hair, nails, teeth, tongue, socks, shoes and uniform. Hygiene should precede learning, and in extreme cases, send the children with poor hygiene home. The popular phrase “cleanliness is next to godliness” must be returned. Today the reliance on perfumes and body sprays are outrageous amongst children and young adults due to poor hygiene.

Nemo dat quod non habet, or as Lord Denning aptly said, “You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stay there. It will collapse”. Allow teachers to be teachers, likewise teachers be teachers. You are the key players in the education sector, there should be no room for unchecked interference. Parents should be parents as the Igbos say, “Okworu adi akari Onye Kuruya”. Proprietor or proprietress, it is your duty not to compromise your school standard and cause harm to the society. Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meetings should be greatly maximised. The tertiary institutions are complaining of unruly behaviour among students. The remand homes, psychiatric hospitals, juvenile homes, boastal homes, correctional centers, are not homes. We can stop the snatch. He who pays the piper dictates the tune, but does not dictate to destruction.

E. P. Ekong, a legal practitioner, can be reached via, idangbenedicta@gmail.com