First, I hope the government will not attack the World Education Forum for producing a report where Nigeria did not make the top 10 countries in Africa in the educational system. Yes, we have that attitude to dismiss any data that we do not like. The fact is self-evident: Nigeria is underperforming across all layers of our educational system.
When I was in secondary school (Secondary Technical School Ovim), it was common for the principal to address us, telling us that some of our math and science teachers would be going to other African countries to deepen their STEM capacities.
My Further Mathematics teacher (Mr. I. Ukene) made two trips to Namibia and Botswana. But recently, it does seem like these countries are the ones that may be sending support to us. Nigeria has missed the top 10 spots in the latest World Economic Forum educational system ranking for Africa; Seychelles was #1 while Namibia is #10 (full list on click).
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Yet, this ranking is not balanced. I bring the same argument when you see Norway and many Scandinavian nations ranking top in primary and secondary educational systems, well ahead of the United States. Those nations are monolithic unlike the US with its massive diversity and history. By the time you average high performing and low performing districts in the US, it looks ordinary. But do not be confused by that ranking. Rather, be worried that many are left behind even when it does produce the absolute best.
That takes me back to Nigeria. According to NBS data, Imo State has a literacy rate of 96.43% while Yobe is at 7.23%. If you average both, Nigeria looks bad, but that does not mean that Nigeria does not have excellence. So, ranking, even by WEF, is not the full story. Of course, we need to do more for all to rise!
https://www.tekedia.com/nigeria-missing-in-world-economic-forum-2022-top-10-african-countries-with-best-education-system/
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That’s the downside of averages, once you level things up, the finest ones suddenly look average or poor; even our poverty index mirrors same.
We are a country of ironies and paradoxes, where the poorer and less educated sides of us will brag about their voting numbers, and still want to dominate governance. The outcome is there for all to see, but we are not also normal, so even with glaring evidences, we still need to twist things; because the politics is sweeter than development.
Look no further than our politics, even among the supposed educated class and meaningless elites, what do we refer to as good governance or development? So when you hear supporters shouting track records and legacies of their principals, they are referring to bridges, roads, airports and empty large buildings, with zero knowledge of what to do with them, let alone maintenance.
What is our ROI on the railway projects we have borrowed stupendously and recklessly to build? It can’t generate its own running costs, let alone being able to repay for what was invested.
If Imo or Anambra is allocating 20% of its budget to education, states like Yobe, Zamfara and Sokolo should be allocating 70%. These states have no business in showing us flyovers and co.
Your concluding sentence was absolutely spot on, I couldn’t agree more.
However,, the selfish political elites, who know too well what to do to change the fortunes of the ‘general masses’, will always look the other side.