THE TROUBLE WITH TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON PAPER QUALIFICATIONS

THE TROUBLE WITH TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON PAPER QUALIFICATIONS 

                           By: 
Nurudeen Dauda
        November 19,2017
nurudeendauda24@gmail.com nurudeendauda24@yahoo.com
nurudeendauda.blogspot.com

It is sad to note that certificate racketeering is now in our higher institutions. Scandals too many!  Why the educational sector? In my view, people have now realized that having "certificate" is what matters most not "knowledge"or " ones practical ability". I quite agree that we need a benchmark or a yardstick for making decision on employment, but given too much emphasis on "certification" or "paper qualification" will never produce the desire result. 

I am deeply touched by what I read in the "social media" on an allegation of sales of "certificates" in the Federal College of  Education(FCE) Zaria by certain individuals. I do hope that it is an allegation! More so, it is even more worrisome for me when I read in Daily Trust Newspaper that about 25 staff members of Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria have been arrested on an allegations of sales of Certificate .

The issue of Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria is of utmost concern to me in view of the fact that I did my Interim Joint Matriculation Board ( IJMB) in the institution some sixteen years back before proceeding to ABU Zaria. Permit me to say that, I knew of very competent and committed lecturers who were never materialistic in the institution. I remain highly indebted and deeply grateful to them. 

However, I am very happy to note that the Rector of the polytechnic,Professor Shehu Dalhatu vowed to fish out and punish the members of staff responsible.  It is also my suggestion that the Rector should and or must investigate the allegation that some dishonest lecturers, certainly not all, often request for cash from the students before passing their examinations.

I never knew that certificate racketeering has entered the higher institutions. As far as I know the issue of buying and selling of certificates in both public and private secondary schools have been ongoing for about two decades now. It is no longer an allegation anymore nothing but the truth that some dropout students often approach some dishonest examination officers with "cash" in our secondary schools in order to help them find results with their namesakes so that they could use it to secure jobs.

In my understanding, what causes certificate racketeering and even examination mal practice is given too much emphasis on paper qualifications rather than practical ability. However, if we must get it right, in my view, we should and or must emphasize on practical ability of students rather than their certificates.  Our society rather than given emphasis on practical ability of the student is given too much emphasis on paper qualification which should be changed. 

Employers of labour too are not helping matters rather than given emphasis on practical ability in terms of employment they often give emphasis on  "First Class" or "Second Class" Upper students.  It is possible for one to miss "First Class" or Second Class " Upper due to financial problems or victimization or Ill health.

The Provost of FCE,Zaria and the Minister of Education should and or must investigate this mighty allegation against  some dishonest staff members of the institution. More so, the Rector of Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria and the Commissioner of Education should also investigate the allegation. 

May God bless Nigeria!

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