“5 credits of the 80s, better than first degree of today”. Chief Cyril Ukeoha.
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Chief Ukeoma Cyril, the Ikeoha 1 of Obinwanne, an educationist and a retired teacher, from all standards is not happy about the fallen standard of education today in Nigeria. After teaching in High School Umuaka and Akajiaku Commercial Academy which is now defunct, the Ikeoha left teaching in 1986 and went for further studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka where he read accounting and auditing. This academic empowerment secured him a good job at Bendel Insurance firm after his graduation. The insurance firm after noticing the accounting and auditing vibrancy in him then posted him to Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State. A couple of years later, he left Bendel Insurance and went further to join a Danish firm where he was made an account supervisor. Because of his track record in accounting and his no nonsense posture in the discharge of his duties, the Danish firm transferred him to Benin where he was promoted to the office of the depot manager.
For the past 34 years he left teaching, the Ikeoha 1 has been watching the developments and crisis that have endangered the growth of education in Nigeria. He is absolutely very sad about the state of education in Nigeria today especially the university education.
In a regrettable illustration he analyzed to Umuaka Times, Chief Ukeoma said that in the 80s, someone who had 5 credits can favourably compete with a BSC holder then but today, the story has changed and is highly laughable. “The possession of 5 credits of the 80s is better than the Bsc of today in many circumstances. In fact, education in the 70s and 80s, was more valuable and beneficial to the society then than what we have today.”
To buttress his point more, Chief Ukeoma told Umuaka Times that during their time, their teachers would punish them for using a calculator to solve an ordinary mathematical calculation. This unique way of teaching by their teachers then was also what they as teachers passed on to their students when they were i service.
Chief Ukeoma regretted that despite the advent of science and technology in the society today, students are now encouraged to use computer, Google, calculators and other devices instead of making use of their brains. “This,” Chief, Ukeoma lamented “invariably deteriorates the brain.”
The Chief also told Umuaka Times how primary school pupils used to write and read letters for their parents and others in the 80s while today, many graduates cannot afford to write letters constructively.
On who to blame over the rot in education, Chief Ukeoma refused to blame neither the parents nor teachers but advanced another illustration. According to him, education in Nigeria today is like when we had Post and Telecommunications, P and T. The use of typewriters then was a welcome development which was hailed by many especially in the ministries. When computers came, those typewriters became obsolete. That is exactly how it is to education of today according to his own opinion.
On the solution to reintroduce the functionality of education in Nigeria, he advocated that the government should reorganize education in the country despite the political party in power. He appealed to ministers, commissioners and others to embark on an intensive research on how to fashion out a productive educational system in the country.
Chief Ukeoha did not show deep optimism over this advocacy because things have indeed gone totally bad. Hear him. “It appears all they know now is nothing but money. Can you imagine that the third term which was disrupted by Covid19 lockdown is what teachers are asking the students now to bring their school fees for?”
