Welcome to Day 1 of our #Eduinnovate campaign. We are excited to share our thoughts with you and look forward to hearing yours as well.
Today, we’ll talk about the low level of recognition for academic excellence in Nigeria and proffer solutions.
The reward system for academic excellence at all levels in Nigeria could almost make one think stories from the older generation are fables. What stories?
“Company representatives were frequently waiting with employment offers for top students outside the school gate on graduation day throughout our time in school”.
“The government offered scholarships to outstanding secondary school pupils to pursue studies locally or abroad.”
“We have a good life to show for the hard work we put into our studies”
“Everyone wanted to enroll in school: there were good prospects”
Why you might think these are fables
The shocking ways that academic excellence is recognised in Nigeria’s educational system are unending.
Here are a few :
A tuber of yam and fowl for best graduating students and Cash prizes ranging from N200 to N2,000.
One of the beneficiaries of such on his interview with the BBC, said,
“People expected me to get a gift related to books, but when I got yam and fowl they started laughing, wondering whether I’m a native doctor”
A final year student who attended his University ‘s Award Ceremony had this to say:
“the cash award given to students that made first class was ridiculous enough to discourage other students from being studious, as some first class students got N1,000, N5,000 or N10,000”.
According to another student, during his graduation, not only were they not given any award, they were not recognised at all.
“The names were only called and we stood up where we were and that was all. It was really a shame”.
Stakeholders in the field have suggested that the fact that society no longer values and rewards academic excellence may be one of the factors contributing to students’ apparent decline in academic interest. People are now reportedly asking:
“Why are you killing yourself with schooling when getting a job is not by first class or second class, but by who you know”.
A secondary school leaver as politician may rake in hundred times more than Professor.
There are a few good stories, but we don’t hear them often! We need more…
“Imo State offered scholarship to a student who scored 9 A’s in the 2020 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE). In acknowledgement of her meritorious performance, she is to be sponsored through her educational career to the desired level”.
“In November 2021, Ogun state governor gave the Best Graduating Student from the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, a house, N5 million and a scholarship for further studies”.
There are also few organisations that encourage academic excellence:
Agbami, NNPC/Chevron, Mobil, MTN Foundation, Agip, Seplat, UBA Foundation, PTDF, PZ.
#Eduinnovate
- A website (platform) where individuals/private bodies from various parts of the country can make donations to encourage students who have performed excellently.
How will this work?
High-flying students will be required to provide proof of academic excellence. Sponsorship can range from scholarships to job placements or referrals. Field-based mentorship will also be made available.
- Immediate rewards for small steps towards academic excellence. Not only should final exams or inter-school competitions be awarded. Assignments, tests, and even as little as answering questions asked in class correctly should be given some form of reward. This will ultimately ensure that students will strive to excel right from the start, right from learning in their classrooms up to examinations and competitions.
- Healthy competition among students should be promoted by tech expos where students may participate while also receiving great recognition. The world is evolving and there is the need to equip the future generation with skills to thrive.
…and the ones we have been preaching
- The government should make provisions for the reward (in cash and in kind) of high-flying students through the Ministry of Education, which should be a part of the budget.
- As a nation,we should cultivate a culture that recognizes and rewards academic accomplishment at all levels, including individual, corporate, and governmental. To do this, a system of incentives for academic success must be established and integrated into our society. For instance, despite how admirable some states’ acts in recognition of excellence are, there is no assurance that they will continue.
Hopefully, this trend will spread and more people will start to give intellectual achievements the respect they deserve. Who knows, this might be able to change the perceptions of some young people who believe that education in Nigeria is a scam.
THANK YOU FOR READING!
PLEASE DROP YOUR THOUGHTS BELOW…
I think this is true. I remember this discussion came to limelight in the earlier years of my tertiary education only for it to die down.
The decline in academic excellence is no longer considered a race for the “smart” rather a race for the “street”.
I believe that institutions can partner with wealthy individuals and business owners who are capable of lending helping hands in the aspect of recognizing high flying students.
This was such a beautiful read.
I definitely agree with the fact that a system needs to be put in place, for educational reward. It should not be dependent on the current or outgoing leader; it should be independent of whether or not the person loves to reward educational achievements.