A child starts school at a certain age in life, and school enrolments were determined by a child’s age and level of development.
Students who fail in their studies repeat classes and can do so many times until they pass their promotion exams.
Local languages were made compulsory in schools as a way to preserve the different traditions and cultures of people.
Agricultural science was a basic subject in secondary schools. Lots of practicals were done both in school and at home, and many families grew their food.
Gardening was common, and natural food and fresh vegetables were in surplus.
Craft and traditional manufacturing processes were taught and practised in school, which sustained a lot of families, especially rural areas.
Students were taught to be innovative and hardworking, and that suppressed undue appetite for a fast-paced lifestyle.
Natural resource management, survival skills, and essential means of livelihood were core learning areas of every school and family.
Many families thrived through hunting, poultry, fishing, carving, farming, crafting, and many other handwork. A lot of children were nurtured to be great in these areas.
Corruption was minimal, unemployment was low, and the quality of life was better, especially health wise.
Chastity, honesty, and integrity were held in esteem and inculcated to children from the family to the school.
Traditional values were respected, and every child was proud of his cultural heritage.
School events combined traditional practices with physical training, character moulding, intellectual training, and manual activities.
Greed, pocket-picking, exam fraud, drug addiction, Yahoo, prostitution, inappropriate dressing, thuggery, hooliganism, and many other behavioural vices in children and youths, were very minimal,
Schools and families were prided in cultural preservation, practical skills, social cohesion, and holistic growth.
Things have fallen apart.
Can the centre hold again?
A lot has been substituted by modern education. While there are pros of modern education, there’s a need to integrate it in the values of traditional knowledge in order to enhance better educational outcomes and promote sustainable development.
✍️ Amara Ann Unachukwu
