Educational Decadence in Nigeria: A Student’s Perspective on the High Failure Rate in Exams
Education, often described as the backbone of any nation, is crumbling in Nigeria. The signs are glaring—mass failure in national examinations like WAEC, NECO, and JAMB has become an unfortunate norm. Every year, statistics reveal a shocking reality: thousands of students fail to meet the minimum requirements for higher education. But while the blame is often thrown at students, a deeper look from a student’s perspective reveals a more complex picture.
1. A Broken System from the Ground Up
From dilapidated classrooms and outdated syllabuses to unqualified teachers, the Nigerian educational system is riddled with problems. Students are often taught to cram, not to understand. Most secondary schools, especially in rural areas, lack basic facilities—no libraries, no laboratories, and sometimes, no teachers for critical subjects like Mathematics and Physics. When the foundation is weak, how can the structure stand?
2. Teachers Who No Longer Teach, Just Talk
Many teachers, especially in public schools, are underpaid and unmotivated. Some see teaching as a temporary hustle, not a profession. Strike actions are frequent, sometimes leaving students idle for months. During lessons, outdated methods are used, and creativity is discouraged. As students, we sit in overcrowded classrooms listening to uninspired lectures that rarely prepare us for real-world exams, let alone life after school.
3. The Parent Factor: Pressure Without Participation
Parents often put enormous pressure on students to succeed, yet many do not actively participate in their children’s education. Some expect miracles without investing time in understanding their child’s academic needs. In low-income homes, children juggle school with responsibilities like hawking or farming. How can a student compete academically when they’re struggling to survive?
4. Exam Malpractice: A Symptom, Not the Disease
Students are often accused of fueling exam malpractice, but the truth is, many are forced into it by corrupt systems. In some schools, “runs” (cheating services) are organized by teachers or school owners themselves. When exam centers become marketplaces for grades, can you really say the student is to blame? Many students want to pass honorably, but the system is rigged against them.
5. The Digital Divide and Lack of Exposure
In a digital age, Nigerian students are still battling to access the internet, modern learning tools, and global knowledge. While students in other countries learn coding in primary school, we’re still copying notes from chalkboards. The lack of access to technology puts us at a disadvantage—not because we’re less capable, but because we’re less equipped.
Conclusion: We’re Trying, But the System is Failing Us
Yes, there are lazy students, but most of us want to learn, to grow, to succeed. We’re not afraid of hard work—but we’re tired of working in the dark. If Nigeria must rise, its educational system must be rebuilt from the inside out—with sincere reforms, better infrastructure, qualified teachers, and policies that empower rather than oppress.
The student is not the problem—we are simply the products of a broken system.
Call to Action:
Let’s stop pointing fingers and start asking the right questions. Government, parents, educators—what can you do to ensure Nigerian students get the education they deserve?
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