Education
can be described as the imparting and acquiring of knowledge via teaching and
learning, especially at a school or similar institution. In the words of G. K.
Chesterton ‘Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one
generation to another.’ No wonder every sane and rational society treats it as
the fundamental factor required toward any meaningful development.
The earliest educational processes
involved sharing information about gathering food and providing shelter; making
weapons and other tools; learning language; and acquiring the values,
behaviour, as well as religious rites or practices of a given culture. Prior to
the invention of writing and reading, people lived in an environment in which
they struggled to survive against natural forces, animals, and other humans. At
the time, to survive, preliterate individuals developed skills that grew into
cultural and educational patterns.
Education emanated from the human struggle for
survival and enlightenment. It might be formal or informal. The latter refers
to the general social process by which human beings acquire the knowledge and
skills needed to function in their culture. Whilst, formal education refers to
the process through which teachers instruct pupils or students, as might be the
case, in subjects of study within institutions.
The modern day education makes one feel
proud that s/he is truly educated, though formally or informally, everyone is
educated. The real education, which is the overall development of mind, body
and soul, can be acquired via any means. According to Carter Woodson, ‘Education
means to inspire people to live more abundantly, to learn to begin with life as
they find it and make it better.’
It’s
noteworthy that modern education is aided with a variety of technology
comprising computers, projectors, internet, and calculators, among others; this
fact forms the basis of this discussion. Everything that can be simplified has
been made simpler by introduction of the aforementioned gadgets into the modern
day education. Science has obviously explored every aspect of human life; it
suffices to say that there is now much to learn as well as more to assimilate.
Internet alone provides abysmal knowledge, meaning literally that there’s no
end to it.
Skill
development and vocational education has added a new feather to the modern
system of education. There is something to learn for everyone. Even an infant
these days goes to a kindergarten. And a little grown – mentally and physically
– is promoted to a nursery. The most fascinating part is that everything is
being categorized ranging from kindergarten, nursery, primary, secondary, to
tertiary; and each of these stages has a certain set of technical
acquaintances. The truth is, modern pattern of education is a never-ending
process. Aristotle Nicomachus stated that ‘Education is an ornament in
prosperity and a refugee in adversity.’ This is exactly what modern education
represents.
However,
it’s pertinent to acknowledge that the existing technical intricacy of modern
education has caused colossal harm to the present days children. For instance,
before now, devices such as abacus were used during Mathematics classes. Such
an approach helped tremendously to educate the kids – ranging from ages 6 to 14
– on mental arithmetic, a knowledge that enables them to face any form of
Mathematics problem in the future. But now, except in countries like India,
Russia, China, Ghana, and what have you that still use counting frame or
abacus, calculator has suddenly overtaken its use in Nigeria. Worse still, even
primary school pupils are now exposed to scientific calculators.
Modern
education has deprived most learners the opportunity of seeing the real events
or scenes. Engineering students, for example, only see pictures of what is
being taught, or what is expected to be produced by them. Final year
undergraduates, and perhaps postgraduate students, presently do their projects
or theses by merely downloading the required materials from the net. Most
students don’t even know where the fabric they are wearing came from. The word
‘how’ is currently missing in our world, which causes ignorance.
Modern education has succeeded in spreading
more ignorance than knowledge. It has produced a vast population able to read
but unable to distinguish what is worth reading. Learners do more of cramming
rather than memorizing, which can only be achieved by getting close to facts or
the actual pictures. Albert Einstein once said ‘Education is that which remains
if one has forgotten everything learned in school.’
For the technical intricacies involved in
modern education to be advantageous to the learners, they must serve as supplements.
They ought to be used for reference purposes. The pupils/students must get used
to the real pictures or sites before introducing the use of tech gadgets to
them. Their brains shouldn’t be complicated with those stuffs at early stage. These
brains are still fragile, thus ought not to be juxtaposed with tech
intricacies. More so, endeavour to let the practical segment be preceded by
theory.
We must note that every invention was
made for a purpose, and to be applied at a particular time. So if we end up
misusing them, it becomes a problem when they are meant to serve as blessing.
Think about it!
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