“What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the soul.” -Joseph Addison (1711).
Just as a sculptor shapes a piece of marble into a fine artwork, education refines and shapes the soul or human mind. Education plays an essential role in human development.
Good education is not a privilege. This is a basic human right. It helps people to achieve better quality of life. However, youths in Nigeria have grown frustrated with the inability of our educational system to meet the demands of the industry. The teaching and learning that takes place in Nigerian schools, even at the basic education level, must look beyond simply promoting literacy and numeracy. Vocational education and training also need to be given serious attention. The government also needs to collaborate with the private sector. Vocational education requires strong partnerships between schools and industry to ensure that students gain valuable real-world experience. Companies can provide internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training to help students transition smoothly from school to the workforce.
What are some other current issues and developments in the field of education? These include a focus on digital literacy, education for climate action and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning. Let us analyze these developments one by one.
digital literacy: With the development of technology, there has been a greater emphasis on ensuring that everyone has the necessary digital skills to thrive in the digital world.
Education for climate action: Climate change (or global warming) is the process of warming of our planet Earth. Climate change is primarily caused by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas for energy. This releases heat-trapping greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, leading to a sustained increase in global average temperatures.
There is growing recognition that education is essential to tackling the climate crisis. Efforts are being made to integrate environmental awareness and sustainability into the school curriculum. Integrating climate education into school curriculum and training will foster climate-conscious citizens and leaders, making it a powerful tool to mitigate climate change. This is because educated individuals are more likely to adopt sustainable practices, understand climate risks, and support climate policies. Furthermore, education for climate action can help provide green skills such as technical, social-emotional and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills that are essential for jobs in a sustainable economy. It also promotes innovation to help address the climate challenge.
Furthermore, education drives climate action as it prepares communities for climate impacts, teaching disaster preparedness, resilience and coping mechanisms. Youth educated in climate action can become powerful advocates for behavior change, innovation and adaptation as well as demanding action from governments and institutions.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Teaching and Learning: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come with the potential to enable new forms of teaching, learning and educational management. Teachers, being the primary users of AI in education, are expected to be designers and facilitators of students' learning with AI. To handle this responsibility, teachers need support to develop their capabilities to take advantage of the potential benefits of AI while minimizing its risks in education settings and wider society. AI tools should never be designed to replace the legitimate accountability of teachers in education. While AI offers opportunities to support teachers in both teaching and managing learning processes, meaningful interactions between teachers and students and human flourishing must remain at the center of the educational experience.
Nigeria is a 'nation of youth', with about 43 percent (about half the population) currently under the age of 15. Nevertheless, it is reported to have the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, even though primary education is officially free and compulsory.
This is a serious problem for the country. Many people think that the main purpose of education is to earn money. However, some educated people are unemployed or do not earn enough money to meet basic needs. This may lead some parents to think that sending their child to school is not beneficial. But it's good to keep in mind that schooling does more than prepare someone to make money. Education prepares a person to live a normal life.
To successfully deal with these challenges, other sectors of the society, such as the private sector, media and community, can support the efforts of the government by providing aid and grants to educational institutions, constructing new classroom blocks in public schools, donating educational infrastructure like school furniture, textbooks, libraries, etc. Some private organizations and individuals can also identify, verify and sponsor the education of some less-privileged out-of-school children.
A good education is one of the greatest assets we can invest in for our future. So, let us together ensure good education for all!
Mr. Daniel IGHAKPE (a farmer, experienced teacher and health worker). [email protected]; +234 916 481 0832. Festac Town, Lagos State, Nigeria.
