Learning is more than Schooling

Vastly, the more jarring issue today is the leeway between schooling and learning and the latitude between skill set of graduate and being employable. Schooling is considered vacuous if not espoused by learning. The basic problem is the misrepresentation of the process or formation of the system of education, giving much ebullience to nothing but schooling. The trend today has given a directional compass to much of learning than empty schooling. Schooling is like a definite sojourn which gets people certified afterward with or without content. Learning takes place virtually in everyday life. For every path threaded, it is canonically acceptable to give back an impact and leave a trace for a grand legacy. Learning is all about keeping abreast the currency of issues by systematizing, analyzing and communicating ideas in (out) side the hallowed halls of a school.

There are ambiguities of meaning in regards to schooling in Nigeria today. Most commentators rely more on the commonsense understanding that countries must have good schools to succeed economically rather than presenting conclusive evidence that connects what students learn in school to what subsequently happens in a nation’s economy. Even economists have skirted the heart of the question by looking only at school attainment, i.e. the average number of years students remain in school. It is not enough simply to spend more time in school; something has to be learned there. Without learning idiosyncrasy in school, then it’s disaster-prone and empty. The reasons for schooling are inexhaustible due to their enormity. Some people school to be learned, proud, certified without content, etc. The digital age has helped in redefining the moment that the most required and glaring reason for its attendant to glow in the flow is for the learning purpose. 

We all swam in the same ocean called School, where some of us came out to be certified but empty while others certified and learned. The earlier one realizes the downturns of discontent schooling, the clearer his visions. Do we need not manipulate the rule of the game and witness vicissitude from schooling for certified purpose to schooling for learning purpose? Empty and discontent schooling no longer be the vehicle that drives to fortunes, much more than that is the realization that learning is at the forefront of bringing forth opulence of ideas. Wrapped up in this is a stentorian and synoptic regurgitation on why learning and not only schooling. A forward march toward learning is worthy of credit than a sprint to certified but empty schooling. We need to operate in the emerging paradigm that is marked by learning which I term the “learning continuum”, a learning that creates a smarter way of achievement by aligning precious talents. To anticipate and embrace this continuum, authorities need to accentuate on the marriage of necessity of schooling with learning to understand the shifting dynamics and trends. Schooling entails sitting within the four walls of an institution for numerous reasons but learning is about adopting a mental model of being receptive to new ideas and concepts for creativity and the ability to open the mind to emerging opportunities to stand out in the crowd.

The problem should not be all about certified schooling but learning in every aspect of life. The formal structure of schooling has over time been the bane of an army of misfortunes we experience today. We have been so attached to a mental model that has grown obsolete and outdated. To embrace the new logic of value creation, we need to unlearn the old mantra of empty and discontent schooling. Learning is about adding new skills or knowledge to the existing one, updating and keeping abreast with the currency of world issues and taking advantage of emerging opportunities. The equation of schooling barren of learning is misleading and takes one to a cul-de-sac. Any fool can go to school to be enshrouded with an academic gown and get certified, but the so wise takes focus on learning. The best thing for being sad is that school has failed a lot of persons. There is only one thing to it- Learning. Everyone knows how important it is to stay in school, get a good education and graduate. But it may be hard to stay focused after reading about the success of famous dropouts. They upheld the tenets of learning and not schooling. If it’s all about schooling, David Karp (Tumblr), Richard Branson (Virgin), James H. Clark (Apple), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Aliko Dangote and a million of them who turn the world on their head would not have made it this far. 

We need to dedicate ourselves to reform our mindset for the benefit of all. Yet there is no end to this story. Learning is the only thing for you and me. Look what a lot of things there are to learn and discredit the schooling syndrome of emptiness in learning. Think and rethink, together we can change the world.

Add caption

About the Author

Babangida Said Jamilu is an Economics graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He holds an M.Sc degree from the same university, in Economics still. He has worked with Igbinedion University, Okada, the then Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, and has volunteered for various organizations. He coedited “The Frontliner Magazine’’. Babangida Said Jamilu is currently the Business Manager of StarVerve Tech Company. He is professionally certified in Project and Risk Management and is currently an Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) student. He has also received a number of Awards for his hard work and contributions.