This Romance with Foreign Education!
Thousands of Nigerian students will now be packing their
bags and heading out to institutions abroad. They will be joining the several
of thousands of Nigerian students already there. Popular destinations include:
Ghana, US, UK, Malaysia, Ukraine, Germany, Norway, India, Philippines and many
others.
The number of Nigerians sending their kids to school abroad
has grown exponentially in the past couple of decades. First it was young
graduates going abroad for postgraduate degrees; however, this soon yielded to
thousands leaving for undergraduate courses abroad. My understanding is that
lately, a lot of parents have been sending their kids abroad for GCSE, A
Levels, Baccalaureates, pre-degree programmes, etc.
This development contrasts drastically with when I was
growing in the 70s and 80s – then, it was the exception rather than the rule to
see families sending their kids abroad for education. Yes, I recall many going
for postgraduate courses, and of course, a good many others taking up
scholarships from parts of the Eastern Bloc; however, this was by far, nothing
to compare with the situation today.
I live near one of UK’s universities very popular with
foreign students, including Nigerians. I’m filled with pride anytime I visit
the adjacent shopping outlet where I see a lot of young Nigerian students
either working at the tills to augment their allowances. Some are there to
shop, window-shop or do a number of other things young people do. Seeing them
excitedly chit-chatting in Pidgin English and other Nigerian dialects; their
independence and apparent sense of purpose are quite admirable.
This pride is, however, tinged with concerns more especially
nowadays with the worsening notoriety of Nigerian students abroad. I also worry
about the increasing number of Nigerian students being shipped to study abroad
every year, especially as the list of candidates gets younger and much more
impressionable!
Is the government paying attention to this trend and the
cost to the country’s economy, considering especially that most of these
students pay several thousand dollars foreign student’s fees? They also rent
apartments and patronise shops – all a booster to the host countries’ economies
and a loss to Nigeria’s economy.
Has Nigeria now reached a stage where foreign education is
something of a necessity, or just like many others, it is now a status symbol?
To be honest, I’m puzzled at some of the countries Nigerian students go for
further studies: Philippines, Turkey, Cyprus, Cambodia, etc.
What are the long term effects this is bound to have on family and
socio-cultural dynamics of the country? Most of these students spend their
formative years away from home and many, by design or providence, are going to
end up living abroad permanently.
Is the current stigma associated with Nigerian students in
some way attributable to this seeming unchecked foreign education quest? My
worries are just endless!
There is much to be said about students going abroad to
study, especially in terms of better facilities offered in some technical and
medical courses abroad, and an exposure to other cultures and outlook to life.
However, in view of the various points discussed above, I am not convinced the
current level of foreign studentship is healthy for Nigeria.
Is it just me being overly sulky and troubled over a
nonissue? What is your take on this?
I would be most grateful to read your thoughts.
YWOO
This is a lovely read
ReplyDeleteI suppose many students are seeking not just better academic opportunities but more viable future opportunities as well. Considering the state of higher education in Nigeria, it is almost necessary to get a foreign education if you can help it.
ReplyDeleteA great perspective Boomie. Cheers!
DeleteThis is not just a good read...it is really thought provoking. It got me pondering...mostly
ReplyDeleteOn the issue of if our educational system in Nigeria will ever return to it's previous glory talk less of improving and developing.
This is not just a good read...it is really thought provoking. It got me pondering...mostly
ReplyDeleteOn the issue of if our educational system in Nigeria will ever return to it's previous glory talk less of improving and developing.
Tinuke Ogunade
DeleteReally a big concern of mine too Tinuke. Is there a way of lighting a candle to take us through this palpable darkness though?
Big thanks!
You are not the only one alarmed. The outcome of the current experiment which by the way is a feasible solution to a collapsed educational system may be unknown for sometime.
ReplyDeleteOne can only hope it bears desirable fruits in the medium/long term. Thanks for your views!
DeleteThis education exodus, added to medical excursion by the wealthy & powerful, makes me wonder what is left and what can be done to reverse the eventual collapse. Every advanced nation of the world nurtures their most talented assets internally. The opposite is what we seems to be doing.
ReplyDeleteReally concerning! Yours is the million dollar question here - 'what can be done to reverse the eventual collapse?' Thanks for your contribution!
DeleteWise Old Owl,
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing about this subject and opening up this medium for us to opening express our concerns, hopes and eventual come up with solutions to the madness. We just have to be optimistic that something sensible will come out of all the mess around. Not saying it will be easy but not saying it is impossible.
Biodun
Thanks for our viewpoints Biodun. I share your optimism on the possibility of things getting better some day.
DeleteI totally share your views Olaide. I was a student during much of the 70s and 80s - it fills one with a deep sense of nostalgia thinking about the state of things then compared to now. Many thanks!
ReplyDeleteHow do I start this?
ReplyDeleteOkay, I attended a public primary School, a psuedo-public secondary School and a public university in Nigeria. Yes, being your contemporary, I also grew up in school in the 70-80s, I confirm education was then at the highest standards in Nigeria.
How, and where, then did we get it wrong?
Query:
Our government has never been prepared to make adequate provisions for expansion of the educational facilities to accommodate the surge in the number of the Nigerian youths in pursuit of university education.
The results is for people to find alternative means of achieving their dreams.
Of course, some Nigerians saw this lacuna and they sold the idea of private universities to the government.
It is needless to say that the advent of private universities has helped tremendously in assisting the Nigerian youths.
I am aware of quite a number of Nigerian youths who passed out from private universities in Nigeria who are well respected in Canada and America. Some of these young people have also secured blue chip jobs in Dubai.
If the government would wake up to her responsibility and invest more in our educational sector, you can be rest assured that it will go a long way in bringing joy to homes.
In this case, the government will have to establish more universities, train more lecturers and create the enabling environment for the private sector individuals and corporate organisations to set up very well-equiped private universities.
I can also tell you that the ASSU has contributed largely to this "New Order" with their incessant strikes over the years. **Added to this is the sidelining of obviously better candidates for the less meritorious in the admission process of the public universities.
Until the above and many other issues are addressed, I am afraid there is no way we can stop the inevitable migration of our youths to Europe, America and the rest of the world.
Tunde Olutayo-Aro, Esq.
Lagos, Nigeria.
This new trend of studying overseas is used by many as an opportunity to relocate to the western world in order to escape from the numerous existential problemsin Nigeria
ReplyDeleteKemi Odewade
Tunde great contribution and excellent analysis. I will also add that the decline of the educational system unfortunately coincided with the increase of the middle class families in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteIn our days, you can count the number of people that can afford to buy a plane ticket let to talk of paying tuition and accommodation etc. for a child abroad. A lot back then even came on scholarships.
What I'm saying is if you have no choice you will campaign, strive do whatever to improve the system. Sadly, the middle class that have a voice in society and politics abandoned their fellow working class citizens.
Jonathan Adejokun