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Closing The Education Divide By Uche Nworah
The goal of every parent is to sponsor his or her child through the education system and through the tertiary sector where possible. The crowning joy for them is to be there on the last day, during commencement as the child is called up to the podium amongst peers to receive the scroll, the final evidence and consolation for years of toiling against the odds (NEPA, secret cults, vengeful and sadistic lecturers, hunger etc). Such joys are short-lived and eventually turn into sadness as a result of the education divide syndrome.
Those of us that passed through Nigeria’s education system have always known that dichotomy existed in the system, the first of which is between students who attend expensive private schools, and those who slug it out at the poorly resourced public schools. A disparity of esteem also exists between state universities and federal universities, in addition to the widening gulf between universities (states and federal) on the one hand, and colleges of education, polytechnics, colleges of technology and colleges of agriculture on the other.
In a country where securing university admission through the ‘almighty’ Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is like passing through the proverbial eye of the needle, not made any easier with the recent introduction of post-UME examinations by the universities, thousands of students have no choice but to settle for ‘second best’ (state universities, polytechnics, COEs), as these offer alternative routes, through their preliminary, basic studies, certificate and diploma courses. And so for majority of the students that end up in such ‘low status’ institutions, it is usually due to no fault of theirs, and also not an indication of the level of their ability, some may have been priced out by market forces of demand for, and supply of admission places, some others too may have been affected by constant SSSC and JAMB results cancellations arising from allegations of exam centre malpractices.
For some of these students, it is on graduation that reality sets in, this usually begins at the national youth service corps (NYSC) orientation camps where graduates of polytechnics and state universities are chided by their contemporaries from Nigeria’s ‘Ivy League’ or premier universities. The mammy market is usually the melting-pot of social activities at the orientation camp, so it is not uncommon to see camaraderie spirits building up easily amongst like-peers. The rest of the students who graduated from state universities and colleges of education etc end up with a feeling of inferiority and sometimes shame.
This anguish is carried into the crowded employment market, where available opportunities are given first to graduates of federal universities, before those from the states are even considered. Those worse hit by this discriminatory policy appear to be holders of HND and OND, who continue to struggle to secure jobs in banks and in other thriving sectors. They also struggle to gain post-graduate admissions which would have helped them to bring their certificates to par.
The current reforms in the education system in Nigeria should address this issue of disparity in esteem, because the dichotomy that currently exists rubbishes the efforts of the students and the contributions and sacrifices made by their parents. The Nigerian economy can do with the practical and vocational skills which these graduates possess.
Regarding state and private universities, one wonders at the idea behind setting them up if the graduates will end up struggling for jobs because of the logo or name on their certificates. In this regard, the labour and productivity ministry should work alongside other agencies towards enacting the necessary legislation that will guard against such discriminations which leaves millions of graduates forever pounding the streets in search of elusive employment opportunities.
The sufferings of graduates of state universities manifested again during the recent Central Bank consolidation exercise, the exercise led to graduates of state universities becoming the first in the firing line in the various retrenchment exercises embarked upon by the surviving and merged banks. The basic assumptions was that academic standards are higher in federal universities than in state universities, and therefore graduates of state universities are likely to be half-baked or ‘educated illiterates’. However, there is no evidence for such assumptions which remain largely anecdotal.
After suffering disappointments and frustrations at the hands of JAMB, I was happy, or rather lucky when I finally gained admission into the former University of Cross River state and happier still when in 1991 the university became a federal university and was re-branded University of Uyo. This transition and change remained only in name, as the systems, structures, lecturers and facilities remained the same. But still, the name change helped us a lot as we would have been caught up in the state/federal university dichotomy, which does portend limited opportunities for graduates of state universities.
While the idea of granting licenses for the setting up of state and private universities is laudable, because it offers more opportunities to students, however the purpose will be defeated if the proprietors (state governments and private individuals) do not fund the universities adequately, investments need to be made in the areas of buildings, students hostels, and staff (academic and non-academic) training. These will help in raising standards, and thereby improve their image and recognition. Ultimately positive perception will rub off on their graduates.
In other to enhance the image of their graduates before recruiters and employers, and help their cause further, state universities, polytechnics and colleges of education may need to use basic marketing principles to sell themselves more. Graduates of such institutions who are successful in their respective fields despite the odds should also proudly identify with their alma matter and serve as worthy ambassadors in the outside world. Part of the reason for the decline in the profile of some of these institutions is because of the low affinity and relationship between the alumni and their alma matter, if explored by the various alumni associations, such mutual relationships would be veritable sources of funding for the institutions at the low end of the image perception index, especially if the alumni are convinced to contribute to their endowment funds.
Uche Nworah is a writer, lecturer and brand scholar. info@uchenworah.com June 2006
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