“What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the soul.” –Joseph Addison (1711).
Just as a sculptor shapes a block of marble into a fine work of art, education refines and gives form to the soul or human mind. Education plays an essential role in human development.
A good education is not a privilege. It is a basic human right. It helps people to achieve a better quality of life. However, the inability of our educational system in Nigeria to provide youths with the demands of industries has led to increased frustrations. The teaching and learning that takes place in Nigerian schools, even at the basic education level, must look beyond simply promoting literacy and numeracy. Vocational education and training need to be given serious attention, too. There is also a need for the government to collaborate with the private sector. Vocational education necessitates stronger partnerships between schools and industries to ensure that students gain valuable real-world experience. Companies can provide internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training, thereby helping students transition smoothly from school to the workforce.
What are some other current issues and developments in the field of education? They include the focus on digital literacy, education for climate action, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning. Let us analyse these developments one after the other.
Digital literacy: With the rise of technology, there has been a greater emphasis on ensuring that everyone has the digital skills needed to thrive in the digital world.
Education for climate action: Climate change (or global warming) is the process of our planet Earth heating up. Climate change is primarily caused by human activities, especially burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas for energy. This releases heat-trapping greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, thereby causing an ongoing increase in global average temperature.
There is growing recognition that education is essential for addressing the climate crisis. Efforts are being made to integrate environmental awareness and sustainability into the school curricula. Integrating climate education into the school curricula and training will foster climate-conscious citizens and leaders, making it a powerful tool for mitigating climate change. This is because educated individuals are more likely to adopt sustainable practices, understand climate risks and support climate policies. Also, education for climate action can help provide green skills like technical, socio-emotional and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills that are needed for jobs in a sustainable economy. It also fosters innovation to help tackle the climate challenge.
Furthermore, education drives climate action as it prepares communities for climate impacts, teaching disaster preparedness, resilience, and coping mechanisms. Youths educated in climate action can become powerful advocates in driving behavioural change, innovation and adaptation, as well as demanding action from governments and institutions.
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come with the potential to enable new forms of teaching, learning and educational management. Teachers, being the primary users of AI in education, are expected to be the designers and facilitators of students’ learning with AI. To assume this responsibility, teachers need to be supported to develop their capabilities to leverage the potential benefits of AI while mitigating its risks in education settings and wider society. AI tools should never be designed to replace the legitimate accountability of teachers in education. While AI offers opportunities to support teachers in both teaching and the management of learning processes, meaningful interactions between teachers and students and human flourishing should remain at the centre of the educational experience.
Nigeria is a ‘country of the young’, with around 43 percent (almost half the entire population) currently under the age of 15. Nevertheless, it is reported to have the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, even though primary education is officially free and compulsory.
This constitutes a serious problem for the country. Many people feel that the main purpose of education is to earn money. However, some educated people are unemployed or do not earn enough money to meet basic needs. This may cause some parents to think that it is not beneficial to send a child to school. But it is good to note that schooling does more than prepare someone to make money. Education equips an individual for life in general.
To deal successfully with these challenges, other sectors of society, such as the private sector, media, and community, can support the efforts of the government by providing aid and grants to educational institutions, building new classroom blocks in public schools, donating educational infrastructure such as school furniture, textbooks, libraries, etc. Some private organisations and individuals could even identify some less-privileged out-of-school children, verify them, and sponsor their education.
A good education is one of the greatest assets that we can ever invest in for our future. So, let us all join hands together to ensure a good education for all!
Mr Daniel IGHAKPE (A Farmer, Seasoned Educator, and Health Worker). danny.ighakpe@gmail.com; +234 916 481 0832. FESTAC Town, Lagos State, Nigeria.
