PAPER QUALIFICATIONS IN NIGERIA

The level of educational decadence in our society today, has called for a thing of reflection and public discussion.
It is no longer a news that Nigerian students are more concerned on how to acquire paper qualifications than skills that can help them solve practical problem. This was stimulated by the too much emphasis placed on certificates.
And this(paper qualifications) has lead the Nigerian educational system in shambles as it engenders examination malpractice, sorting and more, and this has reduced Nigeria to a point of no relevance.

However, paper qualifications is an official record or document like degree, certificate or diploma which shows that someone is qualified to do something.
According to Moses Msughter Ilim, the problem of paper qualification was informed by Nigerians quest to make life quickly. It is now the order of the day as people are no longer graded based on their talents and intellectual capability but with paper qualification which they cannot defend. And this has detoriated the educational system in Nigeria.

Moreover, people in various positions today are not worth the position but are there due to their certificates which they might have gotten through fraudulent means. Then the ones that worth the position are left unemployed.
And this is the Genesis of Problem. People’s capability should not be measured through paper qualification because it can be gotten through various means both legal and illegal.

In addition, evaluation of people’s capability through paper qualification alone is not healthy and standard for Nigerias economy. If competent persons are employed they will work towards boosting the country’s economy.But if the ignorant ones with just mere paper qualification are employed they will lead the economy into shambles.

Sequel to the foregoing, this emphasis on paper qualification according to prof. Chukwuemeka Ezeonu, is killing the country’s education system. And that it frustrates most students to the level of taking solace in bribing lecturers for marks. Most persons are very creative and have skills but are neglected because they don’t have paper qualification. This problem is largely responsible for most issues in the country.

It is worthy to note that, the world is changing I to a technological worldand we need change of system to align with the change. This is a technological era where we don’t need certificate recognition but skills, creativity and the ability to apply the knowledge with skills should be the criteria and measure of competence and qualification rather than mere certificate.

To wrap it all, the problem of paper qualification has become a reoccurring problem without a lasting solution in Nigeria. This needs to end and as such, employers should desist from judging the efficiency level of prospective employees upon paper qualification.
Government in their own part, should ensure the recruitment and employment of workers is purely based on qualification in all ramification which entails skills, application of knowledge and more.
If the Government and other employers desist from emphasis on paper qualifications then the educational sector will regain it’s glory and so will other sectors and Nigeria will be a better place to live.

I AM PEACE CHINECHEREM NWOKPORO.