Unconfirmed report had it that President Goodluck Jonathan was planning to jettison the 6-3-3-4 system of education currently in operation in Nigeria. This report came at the heat of criticism and wide belief that the quality of education in the country had fallen drastically. It will be recalled that the 6-3-3-4 system of education was introduced to the country during the tenure of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) in the 1980s with Oyo State in particular, adopting the system in 1990. Even informal education as it reflects in our moral values could not be said to remain vibrant today when compared with the situation in the last two decades. The situation has really gone for worse. That, however, is not the focus of this piece, but the formal education, otherwise termed 'western'. A standard six certificate holder of 1960s can stand tall, shoulder high with a university first degree holder on a level playing ground in Nigeria of today. The curricula which formed the basis of learning at various levels of the nation's education have not been adequately reviewed and synergised to reflect our socio-economic needs. Textbooks which were used at primary and secondary schools in 1970s and 1980s were more cherished in terms of value and quality when compared with the ones in use today. To this end, modern education is leftto suffer boredom and basic ingredients which could commend students' enduring memory. Most students now read only for examinations.Some years back, Nigerian certificates were being rejected abroad. No thanks to incessant industrial action embarked upon by universities lecturers across the country. That certainly was responsible for the turn out of half-baked graduates some of who fund it difficult to construct a correct simple sentence in the English Language. To worsen the situation, these poorly turnout graduates were employed to teach in both private and public schools. Their performances in their various classes could be better imagined. Teachers who read this article, especially those that can read in between the lines would understand my view. The fact remains that great and brilliant teachers abound in schools but the growing situation wherein merit and competence are being sacrificed on the altar of corruption and nepotism in the employment of teachers into public schools portends great danger for Nigeria education. Worse still, government at various levels are not helping the situation. Budgetary allocation to the education sector continue to dwindle. 26 per cent budget allocation to education as recommended by UNESCO remain a hard nut to crack for Nigeria. Teachers are in no way motivated. The length at which teachers fought tooth and nail to enforce the payment of 27.5 per cent teachers special salary scale was a clear attestation of the nonchallant attitude of government to their plight. Even the society, which previously held the teachers in high esteem no longer accord them such respect. Moral decadence among students in schools as become a matter of great concern for teachers. Another dark side is the offer of mass and quantitative education. This has done much harm than good. No qualitative teaching could be given in institutions that lack virtually everything except students. The hurriedly adopted 6-3-3-4 system of education two decades ago could have brought succor and relief had it been the policy was critically examined before adoption. The proponents of the policy did not think of technological know-how, man power development and the great issue of power supply. The basic error in planning is responsible for the failure of the 6-3-3-4 programme. So. the huge nation's resources deployed to acquire and to import equipment for the running of the 6-3-3-4 policy was a clear manifestation of culture of waste. What actually became of the equipment deployed to various secondary schools across the country is known to you and I. The idea of 6-3-3-4 as conceived, if well planned could have solved the socio-economic problems facing the country. Six years of elementary education is sufficient to set a good foundation. The first three years of secondary education was meant to discover talents and separate the chaff from the wheat. That would allow brilliant students which possessed the required intelligent quotients to proceed to senior secondary and from there choose their lines of academic carrers. Those who fell by the way side could have been thoroughly trained and could acquired skills in trades and artisan jobs. What a fantastic policy' And as such, Nigeria could have produced academically certificated roadside mechanics, vulcanisers, carpenters, welders; business centre operators just to mention but a few. It baffles and grieves my heart that despite the abundant human and natural resources Nigeria is endowed with, the nation still battles with the problem of power supply. The noble idea behind 6-3-3-4 system of education has no place in Nigeria where electricity supply remains epileptic in cities and virtually non-existing in the most rural areas with schools. Lack of qualified personnel who could teach subjects like intro-tech and operate imported machines shot the policy on the head. Another monster that bedeviled the education sector is the introduction of unregulated part-time courses, sandwich programmes and lecture centres without adequate supervision by the schools that established them. Admission of unqualified candidates into these programmes has increased the wave of exam malpractices. If I may ask, what is the essence of turning out worthless graduates who could only help in overcrowding the labour market' Frankly speaking, most of these programmes were only embarked upon to enrich lecturers and rubbish Nigeria certificate. As a matter of necessity, President Jonathan in his reformation agenda must include total overhauling of education sector. A holistic approach should be applied to redress the rot in the sector. The next minister of education has a herculean task of putting in place an effective system of education that could stand the test of time. The current situation in the education sector would take Nigeria to no height. The sector has collapsed. Most importantly, Nigeria should shift her attention away from paper qualification. Attention should henceforth be directed toward practical competence. Continuous reliance on paper qualification in the appointment of people into various positions and jobs can not help the situation. The idea of polytechnics being sub-merged with Universities and for them to start awarding Bachelor of Tech as conceived by the former Minister of Education, Mrs Obi Ezekweseli is fantastic. That would finally put an end to rivalry between HND holders and University degree holders. And as such, Polytechnics would have no business offering Social Science subjects but concentrate on science and engineering-related disciplines.Ogunmola is an information officer in Iwajowa Local Government, Iwere-Ile, Oyo State.
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