ADRESSING THE INSECURITY/JOBLESSNESS THROUGH EDUCATION I will like to start this piece with the saying “for every beginning there must be an end”, am saying this with the hope and uptimism that certainly the end of the insurgency that had devastated our lives in Borno is surely coming to an end. But while we are praying and working hard to actualize the dream of a peaceful Borno once again, we must also bring up suggestions that will curtail future occurrence of this unfortunate incidence. Though, am of the view that the course of this insurgency has so many dimensions, depending on the angle you are looking at it, from poverty to ignorance, from conspiracy to joblessness, and so on. I also believe that the solution to it must be multi dimensional as well. Therefore this may just be one out of many solutions to this state of insecurity that we found ourselves in today. Looking at the solution through the educational angle, one will agree that it is indeed one of the most important angle through which we can tackle this menace. The number of secondary school leavers from our schools is certainly on the increase, but unfortunately, the number of those who proceeds to the higher institutions has been on the decrease because of high level of poverty. Those who have finished their secondary schools and could not go further due poverty or due to the fact that they did not pass their papers has contributed to the unemployment level in the state. This category of school leavers normally becomes nuisance to the society because some them have not learn any skills that can sustain them, and couple with the fact that they are mostly from poor background. This can lead some of this people to join whatever gang that is available to them sometimes as a means of survival. For me, even though am not an expert in the field of curriculum development, but certainly it is clear that the curriculum we are using has not help us. We all know that one cannot get a decent job with a secondary certificate, and we also know that govt at all levels have refused to make education free and compulsory, yet we could not develop a curriculum that can make our secondary school leavers to acquire skills that can make them useful to the society. It is very important, and urgent that we in Borno state for example, should make education from primary to tertiary level free and compulsory, it also important that we incorporate skills acquisition in our education system. All secondary schools in the state should have a skills acquisition centers where our students can learn trades like carpentry, welding, tailoring, mechanic, and other skills so that those who do not want to go further can at least earn a decent living. The state govt should also take the necessary steps to modernize the sangaya system of the Qur’anic education. This can be achieved through a holistic approach with all sincerity of purpose and without playing politics with it. There should be arrangement for the students of these sangaya to also learn some of the skills mentioned above. In communities that have secondary schools, such sangaya students should be using the facilities in those schools to learn these skills. In those places that has no such schools, an arrangement should be made either to send them to where they can have access to these facilities, or such centers should be established in those communities. For example, those Almajiri’s from the remote villages can be sent to the local govt for at least a specified period of time so that they can acquire these skills and then go back to their communities and continue with their studies while on the other hand they have acquired a skill that can sustain them. This arrangement will mean that the teachers must put extra effort, and that means they must be motivated. The welfare of our teachers must be taken seriously, that is why I commend the effort of the state govt for constructing the teachers’ estate in Maiduguri solely for the teachers. This is indeed commendable, but we need more of such initiative in the rural areas so that our teachers there can as well have a sense of belonging. Whatever investment we make in the educational sector, will not go in vain, that is why the govt must work hard to improve and bring in innovations that will enhance our education so that we can reduce poverty, unemployment and above all youths restiveness. Under no circumstance shall we play politics with the future of our state. We have seen the result of neglecting the education sector in the state and we should never tour that path for whatever reason. It unfortunate that it seems we have the worst members of the state assembly in the whole of the country. These assembly members should have been the driving force that can bring transformation of the education sector through a process of providing a legal frame work and enabling laws that can bring about positive changes in our education system. But what a pity, we have people who can barely write their names as state assembly members. Finally, the govt must wake up to its responsibility and provide a free and compulsory education to the youths, so that we can regain the losses that we have had over the years. They should act fast to bring the necessary changes in our curriculum so as to address the current challenges. You will agree with me that with a sound and free education, with extra skills in various trades, certainly the issue of insecurity, poverty, and under development, will be reduced drastically.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 18:18:46 +0000