Bridging literacy, skill gaps in Nigeria, way forward
In Nigeria, there is dire need to actually equate the gap between literacy and skills in all facets of the educational system both vocational and non-vocational.
With reference to the clause “More learning to more people”. I would like to elucidate the meaning of the key word “learning”, Collins student dictionary describes the word as a means to acquire knowledge of something, a skill or acumen. Hence, we are well informed to acquire knowledge via Education. The same Collins student dictionary describes Literacy as the ability to read and write and also refers to skills as the special ability to expertise aiding someone to perform an activity to full potential.
So, the topic can be further rephrased as problems counteracting the introduction of new methods through which Nigeria can churn a large number of seasoned graduates endowed with subtle and managerial skills to bridge the literacy and skill gap lapses. Right from Kindergarten to tertiary institution, wards are being groomed on literacy skills and this develops as they climbs the rungs of each level of Education. Prior to the injection of new methods to close such gaps between literacy and skills there are root problems that should be tackled to avoid them counteracting the goal of bridging these gaps.
These foundational problems seep deep into educational systems that serve as a tool to infuse knowledge and hence, further drift us from getting positive results .
There are countless problems facing education and one might link them to the Government but I refute such claims as everyone has a role to play to unseal these loopholes. Beginning from the grass roots these problems affecting Education is the causal agent for producing literate individuals with little or no skills precisely.
Firstly, inadequate funding of nursery, primary and secondary teachers including lecturers of all tertiary institutions which result in lack of motivation of these people who act as machineries to input knowledge and teach their acquired skills to students under their tutelage. They put in little or no efforts to teach causing such students to be limited to assimilate and even inculcate basic skills to transcend to higher levels. This problems streams from the payments of meagre salaries and allowances which discourage teachers from being efficient and dedicated.
A second problem is parents misdirection owing to choosing career paths that are unfavourable against the child’s will. Some parents are more concerned about the prestige or honor they will get from the career path they choose for their wards not minding whose ox is gored in the process thus these children study courses without zeal, and cannot practice or even experiment what they were taught leading to the university churning out half baked graduates who are not employable In their field of study. The nitty gritty of education is to produce “job creators not job seekers” as literacy and skills go pari passu as such graduates should be developers in their field.
Another protracted issue is the politicising Of Education to a particular social stratum in the society, students with high grades, vigor and zeal to study high brow courses such as medicine, pharmacy and law who don’t merit such courses but instead these courses are shopped for them due to their social background. These students dawdle through with the aid of connections, buying of grades thus resulting in the production of people who have little or no interest in their course work thus having no zeal to practice, acquire expertise in such fields or even break grounds this widen the gap between literacy and skills.
Finally, Dysfunctional and bad parenting is a serious problem that should not be taken lightly. some parents aid decadence in closing the gap between literacy and skills acquisition by encouraging Examination malpractice, failure to inculcate good morals, inability to provide financial needs, inability to be psychologically alert to their wards needs. Parents should be emotionally present for their wards and serve as a positive push, leading them alright, giving them the right counsel and creating a conducive environment where they can maximize their potential to the fullest.The family is the mini society ,the society forms the communities that forms a nation.The foundational work needs to be done and not be underestimated.
