The need to encourage hard work in education

Education as the popular saying goes “is the key to unlocking opportunities and benefits in our contemporary society”.

But it’s painful that the master key is no longer held with high esteem in recent times compared to the olden days where people strive to be educated. A lot of youths today, see education as nothing, which leads to the popular saying among them “school na scam.” This might sound true, because educational system is no longer the way it’s supposed to be. Those with good grades are not rewarded for their excellent academic performance.

This issue has sadly led to decline in the quality of the educational system in our country. The recent decision by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Federal Government to set 150 as the cut-off mark for admission into universities is not a pleasant story to tell. According to JAMB and the Federal Government, the decision is to encourage fairness, but it’s a compromise on the standard of education. What about the 180 minimum benchmark of 2016, why can’t they continue with it?

READ ALSO: Now that our children’s education is in peril

Education still remains the strongest pillar that will uphold any society. Societies that refuse to encourage and embrace education will have their future hanging in the balance. So in order to restore the dignity of our educational system, the youths and the students should be encouraged for their hard work. Creation of good Job with standard criteria for qualification, without favouritism and nepotism, will make the youths value education. Also, school authorities should try to encourage students to study hard as this will help enhance the quality of education once again. Government should also help to introduce competitive scholarship that will be based strictly on merit and not favouritism.

No matter what, education still remains the best legacy the youths will earn for themselves, so everyone should work together to encourage the act of studying hard among our youths, as education is of a great benefit to them and the future of our society.

•Gideon Alabi is a student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State.