Written by TEAM SMARTBRAINS
To all Nigerian Students, smartbrains fans, and lovers of education...
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Education is the best legacy, They say. But it is rather disheartening how this very important aspect for the overall development of the human life is hitting bottom low in terms of standard and productivity in Nigeria.
Talking of Education, according to Wikipedia, “Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits”. Looking closely at this definition, it depicts education as a process that is not limited to the four walls of a classroom. It is a process that leads to a development of the thinking, behavioral and intellectual capability of a man.
Shifting our gaze to Nigeria, Our system of education in the ancient times had brought about a high level of productivity. This is simply due to the fact that the westerners that brought Nigeria to this light had done so at the level at which the world was operating on, in the 19th and 20th century.
Prior to the advent of western education in Nigeria, Nigerians basically had two forms of education, the Islamic education and the indigenous education. The Islamic education taught children within the age bracket of five, things pertaining to Islam and the Arabic language. This kind of education was prominent in the northern part of the country. While the indigenous form of education was widely practiced in the western, southern and eastern parts. In this case, children were divided into age groups and assigned different tasks in the society. Children within the age group of two learnt sweeping and other basic cleaning procedures by constantly doing such activities. The older ones learnt farming and other specific trades like wood carving or drumming. This system of primitive education was just enough to survive in the Nigeria of those days.
Formal western education was introduced by the British missionaries in the mid 1800s. This movement was spear-headed by the Anglican church missionary society (CMS), which stared several schools. They built schools in different regions of the then Northern and southern protectorates.
This new system of education had very little acceptability from Nigerian parents then. But it was optimally a representation of the stage of world development. It had the least growth in the north, but a dramatic growth in the eastern part of Nigeria. Its infiltration into the way of life of the people of the west was of a mixed feeling, subjecting the system to a slow but steady growth.
Soon after independence from the British ‘school-masters’, education was made compulsory for all Nigerian children.
Since the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, the world had changed drastically, and so has its educational system.
Nigeria as an integral part of the world had also embraced the change the world had brought. Even the thinking of the now-Nigerian child has changed.
But in-spite of this change, it is unfortunate that the educational system of the giant of Africa has remained adamant to change.
World education has gone beyond just subjecting students to theoretical things alone. It has gone beyond just reading in books and not seeing them as they work for real.
But Nigeria is so stuck up to its out of date methods of learning. The practicality is not there. Government has refused to update the educational system to meet the standard of the world. Or probably, the modern system is too cost-demanding for the government to handle. And government is not willing to invest so much into it. The world has even gotten to the stage of virtual reality.
Veering from the issues with the government, the issues with us, Nigerian students, when viewed from a particular angle is also a major setback to our education.
We, as the 21st century persons have a flare for fun, entertainment and innovation. But all this characteristics of ours is in contrast to the old education system that was meant for minds with little technological exposure.
I have been exposed to the internet, why would I want to go and spend long hours searching for a book in the library, when I could easily get a Pdf file online and make into hard copy if I want to.
Notwithstanding, this configuration of the 21st century student doesn’t scrap out the fact that we need education. It is the best legacy.
But to combine education and the nature we carry, you would agree with me that we need a single platform that is able to educate, entertain, inform and impart us.
Since the government is still a long way from catering for this need, we can turn to the internet. If only there could be a platform that would cater for these our four basic needs for full development; education, information, entertainment and impartation.
In terms of education, a platform that will provide; an e-library, forums to take online test and assessments, tutorials, forums for discussions with students of various other higher institutions, scholarship and admission updates, and a medium to get materials and other utilities via online transfer.
The access to information is a very crucial aspect of human life. This cannot be given in the Nigerian classroom of today, but there is a huge need for it. Hence the need for a platform that gives students up to date information on happenings in their immediate society and the world at large. Information related to sport, entertainment, news, lifestyle, health tips, campus, gist, articles and stories.
Furthermore, adequate entertainment is required to relax the mind and body of students, after been subjected to stress by the lacking Nigerian schools. A platform that provides the latest music, shows that are edu-taining and tours of other places in the country.
A student that is able to get a perfect blend of these three important issues is certain to excel, not only in the classroom but also in the outside world.
In lieu of this, a single platform that provides these three requirements can be affirmed to have imparted the life of students.
I want to believe and I know you do too, that there is a cogent need for such a single platform that is able to educate, entertain, inform and in turn impart students in Nigeria.
The breakthrough of the 21st century technology- the internet is able to provide such a platform that will be within the reach of millions of students.
It would be awesome to simply log on to a single website and get all that we need at our finger tip.
In all we saw the need for a 21st Century platform which in turn will Educate ,Entertain ,Inform & Impart the Students .....This platform is bound to Directly or indirectly move this Great Nation forward... The Question is where is this platform/Brand ? What is this Platform ? How can I get to this platform ? .....But don't worry the team is working day and night to put things in place for all ,therefore the platform is Ready & will be unveiled soon ,Therefore Anticipate!!!
In SMARTBRAINS ,We Educate ,Inform & Impart because in all you do as a student/youth ,your Success is always our pride .....
God bless Nigeria.
God bless All students.
