Is education the key?

While growing up, our parent always say “education is the key”, our teachers always say “education is the key”, and songs have been written promoting the idea of “education is the key”. But to be realistic, is education really the key?

If yes, why are there thousands of graduate unemployed in our country? Can’t education solve the problem? If education is the key, why is corruption still on the rise? Can’t education solve this problem? If education is the key, why are there challenges today? Will I be right to still say education is the key? Key to what or key for what? I think there is a misconception about what education is. I believe that education is a platform not a key, “a platform” in this context is like an individual all alone in a ship with a compass, a map and the ships’ manual. The fate of this individual depends on what he will do with the compass, map and the manual. Without taking a step, he is bound to remain at that position even if wave or wind pushes the ship. Unemployment has eaten so deep into Nigerian society to the extent that the citizens have learnt to live with it, with a view that nothing can be done about it.

The unemployment situation has changed from previous positions marked by prolonged period of unemployment and misemployment to one in which graduates of tertiary institutions have to normally wait for a long time before getting a firs job if at all. Knowing well that employment have become hidden treasures that others spend their whole lifetime without finding, should give people a directive and warning to be able to initiate a way out of the pit others have fallen into to avoid repeating their mistake.

Now here is my verdict! Education is not the ultimate prerequisite for excellence in life if not people like Dangote will live and die in his village and during his funeral; people in his neighbouring village will not notice that someone is dead. Education avails an individual the opportunity to be informed and trained to develop a mental capacity that enables him not to be irrelevant in the world even as he lives but to be relevant and indispensable. I am advocating that parent, teachers, and everyone should have a rethink about the blatant conception of education as the key.

Hannah Gmadapuya Bawa, IBBU, Lapai, Niger State.