Hope alive as we teach to the edges.

As a teacher in Nigeria, I see how my kids are fighting to go to school and I see how our education system is failing them. 

Every day, I work to change the status quo for my kids, but there is only so much I can do when the Nigerian education system is so flawed. The issue is not only lack of funding (although that’s a big part of it!) but also lack of quality and standards. The system is just like a factory that is producing unfinished outputs. It produces individuals who know the concepts but cannot apply them. This is because there is too much emphasis on standardized testing rather than how to apply the knowledge practically. Most college and university graduates have to attend additional trainings after their degrees before they are finally fit to work. Quality education should create graduates, who are prepared for the labor force, have the capabilities to solve problems and add value to their communities. However, most importantly, I believe that every child has different learning needs and the education system should account for that.

Permit me to tell you a story about one of the 74 champions in the classroom. Taofeek, who was termed as a dullard and slow learner by other teachers and at some point, I could not phantom how he got to that class because of his consistent low grades. I visited his mum, who after much persuasion opened up to me that he has a psychological problem which they termed 'spiritual'. I chose not to believe this because I knew that children are natural learners and if Taofeek’s learning needs are catered for, he would not have to miss out on his academics. After speaking with him, I got to know that he took an interest in playing and writing. So, I connected his academic work with his lines of interest coupled with leadership roles in the classroom and daily motivation.

The child that was once identified as a dullard, slow learner and one having 'spiritual issues' is now one of the most confident pupils in my classroom and also one of the teaching assistants in class just because he had a teacher who paid attention to his learning needs and most importantly believed in him. I believe every child; if given the right combination of tools, love, support, attention and motivation can thrive in this dynamic world.

In Nigeria, almost everything has been subject to global revolution asides the education system. I once heard about the alternative school for girls present in Lagos, Nigeria to serve at-risk students whose needs are not being met in the traditional school setting. However, I believe that if the Nigerian education system was effective, there would be no need for setting up alternative education structures.

Humans (even kids) are naturally different and diverse so they prosper best under a curriculum and teaching methods that cater to their specific learning needs. Kids are natural learners and one would be shocked at what they can do if their curiosity level is sparked and bolstered. Education isn't supposed to be an industrial or mechanical process but a human em where the curiosity, creativity and imagination of learners are engaged.

The government needs to increase its investment in the education system at all levels as the current education budget is below the benchmark stipulated by UNESCO. The standards of teacher’s certification should be raised so teachers are better equipped to take on the challenges of leading a classroom. Teaching 21st-century skills is also paramount in preparing kids to be active participants in the labor force. When we don’t educate our kids with the skills they need to achieve their ambitions, we lose out on the value they can add to our economy in the future. School should be truly free for all students. Children should not have to hawk on the streets in order to get an education (which should be a right and not an option).

In the United States, the Death Valley national park is popularly known as a barren and desolate wasteland. However, in October 2005 and February 2016 respectively, Death Valley received four times its average annual rainfall of 1.5 inches and this led to a very beautiful bloom of colorful wildflowers. Just like the Death Valley national park, I believe that if the Nigerian education system receives the kind of foundational support and investment it needs and the classroom becomes a climate of possibility, the education system will bloom so colorfully.