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.
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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.
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