This is my son in the picture. He is brilliant. He knows how to code and all that. He had his GCE as far back as SS2. As a father, I am very proud of him but wouldn't pamper him based on those attributes.
Based on my engineering knowledge, I know software controls hardware. If he's only familiar with the software, he will be defeated at the hardware level. However, if he could balance both ends, he would win on all fronts in life. So, every holidays are always a time to learn something the curriculum could not offer them in the classroom in my house. Same treatment goes to the girls too.
This has to do with my background too. While in the Polytechnic during my OND days, I normally noticed a guy having light in his room even when the rest of the hostel was not having electricity. Out of curiosity, I approached the guy. It happened that he built his own inverter. He charged it whenever there was power and made use of it in the night when there was no electricity.
Surprisingly, he's a mechanical student. He was in HND 1 then. I was an electrical student that didn't know the difference between a capacitor and a resistor if handed to me.
So, I enrolled in his workshop for a fee of #200 per month. He thought me how to use soldering iron, trace faults on circuit board and build some panels.
Fast forward to my interview at P&G, I was told to describe an electrical system of operation of a panel. I asked for a sheet of paper and pen. After drawing the power circuit with a full-bridge and noise filtering section, the interviewer was convinced beyond "blowing grammar".
However, I couldn't build on those skills when I got in as an employee. I lost touch but was later trained on PLCs and all that but I so much wished to be able to repair drives and stuffs like that but the company has a standard of "remove and replace. "
Several years later, I was employed by a Servicing firm. That's when those "forgotten skills" had application. We were working at Seplat and they wanted to make their Motor Control Centre come back to live. However, the drives were ordered for but they need to test run a module. I just opened one of the drives. Noticed that majority has their MOSFET bad. I chatted up my boss. He sent the parts from US and we resolved the issue. Several episodes followed and we made our marks.
I was very angry when I saw how Peller ridiculed education. Angrier when I saw my educated folks supporting the d!ckhead's action. I first had issue with the job role's description, "I am looking for someone to hold camera for me and must be MSc holder." The intent was clearly spelt out in the job role. The intent was to ridicule education. Pure and simple. My father has a saying: "I won't prostrate for cow because I want to eat beef."
Sadly, I saw 20 MSc Holders prostrating for Mr. Cow because they want a piece of his meat. Assuming he asked an MSc to be his operations manager, it would have been better. He now put an icing on the cake of ridicule by turning their interviews to content. Me I no blame am at all. When Prof dey rig for dropouts. One even dey go jail now for rigging election for who no care whether he kpai there.
The half of the blame goes to our education system. We focus too much on certificate as if it's a meal's ticket. Education has evolved over the years. It has metamorphosed from classroom to the streets.
Engineering and science labs are empty. The lab equipment are rented for accreditations. I saw a video where an institution that's shunning out engineers could not fix its own generator but would need to call on Oga Chinedu, the generator man, they tag as illiterate to fix their mechanical issues.
The other half of the blame goes to the parent and the individuals. If your course in school is Computer Engineering. Pay visits to the Computer Village in your area. You will be surprised at what these people know.
Their terminology may be different from what you're taught in school, learn it anyway (and never show you know better). Certificates have their places in life. It opens doors. However, your practical know-how's would make you win in life. It will separate you from the crowd.
Parents, another long holiday is around the corner. Most of the time it's around 6 weeks. Divide it into two. Let them spend the first half learning something new. Let them enjoy the holiday with their friends for the remaining 3 weeks.
Tailor your wards interests towards their passion. If she likes cosmetics and ladies things, enroll her with Aunty Sidi, the hairdresser. If she's a fashionister, let her go and learn fashion design. A foody? She can learn how to make small chops, cake, etc. We don't know it all but we should upgrade our education mindset. Let's channel the anger of the insult on education to good use for our wards so that tomorrow one clown will not ridicule our wards on the Internet.
Ire o!
*Contributed by Olusola Oniyelu on his Facebook page.
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