₦airaland Forum

asha 80:
At the first bolded i have always believed in that for sometime even though it sounds radicalistic.

I have always believed that since my secondary school day. i really love the Yoruba language and I for one never saw the usefulness in using English language as the medium of instruction in our schools. We really need to recolonize our psyche.

At second bolded that is the Fafunwa led project right?I wonder where the ife six are now.i would really like to know how they feel about that project.

Yeah you are right. The Fafunwa project was a really eye-opener to me when I learnt about it from my Yoruba teacher in secondary school. Unfortunately, like everything Nigerian, we failed to capitalize on that success. We rely too much on White people.

Yeah, it would be nice to have some first hand feedback from the people involved in the Ife Six project.

asha 80:
I hope you know that there lots of people that supposedly speak english everyday here and also speak english at home by there parents that speak english to them but still end up with P7 in english while some of those guys wey dey mama their native language end up having A3.

The person that had the highest mark in my secondary school class then in english (A1) was one of those guys that spoke more of his native language than english while a few of those guys wey dey blow english even when dem no need am get P7.(my cousin is a classic case).


why the emphasis on abroad?

I totally agree with you

I never read any novel, spoke Yoruba language like there is no tomorrow, yet made A2 in English, and i attended a state school in Ife and it was during the Ife-Modakeke war when teachers were skipping school, fearing for their safety.

However, my friends who were in the habit of showing off their Englsih skills all failed woefully. only 12 of us out of 385 students had c6 and above,

[quote author=eku_bear link=topic=582709.msg7504572#msg7504572 date=1294696314]If anything, I want more English and more alignment with the West. Like, if I were in charge of education in Ekiti I'd scrap WAEC and replace it with the equivalent US standardized exams. Start preparing kids from a young age to do well on them, so that they can more easily go abroad for schooling. Weakening our progress in English in any way or form is almost suicidal, at this point.
Long story short though, I don't want this to be a lockstep sort of thing! Not trying to be tribalistic or something, but if somebody wants to abandon English and do things in his own language, that is his own business. Don't force me and my state, people to do the same. Let everybody decide for themselves what they want to do regarding education.[/quote]That is where you are getting it wrong. People talk about the older generation having better education than the current crop of students, mostly because people like Awo, Soyinka and people of that generation spoke better English and are able to express themselves better. But Wole Soyinka and his ilks were taught by the White people who own the language itself.  Look, there is something about learning in your own language that makes things a lil easier to understand. May be you dont know, English language is taught in Nigeria in a very rigid way and as such you do not get the whole spectrum of usage and concord that are very difficult to teach, but very easy to pick up.

Talking about aligning with the west, we can eat our cake and have it at the same time. Teach pupils in their native language and make English class mandatory up to secondary school level and anybody willing or nursing the ambition of going to the west may then major in English language at the post secondary school level.

Look around you, from the Chinese to the Russians to the Japanese and even the  Arabs, most thriving countries use their native language as the medium of communication and instruction.  It is generally believed that the practice of imposing a foreign language on a learner is a violation of the structure of thinking. Bearing in mind that language influences the thought process of the learner, this understanding of his environment and thus the learning of science and other disciplines, deliberate efforts should be made to enable students learn science and arts  in their mother tongue as much as possible. The idea of forcing students to think in the foreign language as advocated  is unproductive. It does not help students to be creative but reduces them to "robot" who merely memorize the notes given to them by their teachers and reproduce same when required without demonstrating appreciable degree of understanding of the scientific and technological information and process under consideration. If students merely memorize facts, principles and generalizations only to be regurgitated during examination, they will not be in a position to use the knowledge acquired since it has not been internalized.
The lack of internalization of scientific knowledge, process and skills by Nigerian students seems to have been largely responsible for our inability to do well in external examinations like WAEC and NECO, and may also have contributed to our inability to make any significant scientific invention. The situation is unacceptable and needs urgent redress.

In 1971 a pilot project was started in selected centers in the SW using Yoruba language as the medium of instruction. Evaluation exercises at the end yielded the finding that students instructed in their mother tongue were more proficient in school subjects, including English, than students instructed strictly in English language.There is ample evidence, both local and international, especially in Norway that has proven time and again, that when a child is properly grounded in the mother tongue, he stands a better chance of understanding another or foreign language. The Ife Six Year Primary Project clearly bears this out.

BRB!

tensor777:
What have you just said? Education is universal and the idea that Nigeria can have a strictly home grown education curriculum is just laughable.

Well genius, the UK has a different curriculum from what the US

And the French curriculum is different from what is obtainable in other other western countries.

So yes, we can have a home grown curriculum designed for our peculiar need!

asha 80:
Sometimes i wonder whether the education curriculae in present in nigeria is meant for the nigerian enviroment or a 'psuedo colonial or europian 'setting.

Also the other thing is that should we switch to our indigenous language instead of using English language?


It doesnt seem as if we are making any head way with English language as the chosen medium of instruction.

I have a feeling that things would become more intuitive to students if they are taught and examined in their native language.

[quote author=eku_bear link=topic=582709.msg7503850#msg7503850 date=1294689645]So 63.3% in the US, so roughly the best 3 out of every 5 students.

In my opinion, that is way too many. 37th percentile is too low to set the threshold.

Think of your own personal experiences with your average American HS graduate (so 50% percentile). The guy who works as a bank teller somewhere. Receptionist. Jobs of that sort. Do they really have any business being in college?

University of Maryland has a bunch of remedial classes where freshman waste there time learning things they should have already learned in high school. Some of these kids, if you ask them a basic pre-algebra question like, "given these two points on a line, what is the slope and y-intercept of the line?", they won't be able to answer. And these are 17, 18, 19 year old kids wasting the Maryland taxpayer's dollar on a simple question my 10 year old sister learned this weekend.

The US and the Western world can afford to waste resources (federally subsidized loans, taxpayer subsidized education, etc) like that since they are very rich. Nigeria on the other hand cannot.

I[b] prefer a model of mandatory, high-quality education up to the high school level. Then the top 20% or so of students can get into college.[/b][/quote]You have got to be kidding me

You also have to realize that very few students take HS seriously, especially in a country like Nigeria where a huge percentage of the HS students are shipped to some far away boarding school in the middle of no where, like my parents did to me, with no supervision and guidance whatsoever. How do you really know who the top students are? one of the reasons people do badly on external exams and on exams generally, has to do with lack of self discipline and guidance from those whose job it is to nurture and guide the students. But leave a student, especially impressionable students just entering puberty alone without guidance, what you get is lackadaisical attitude with regards to their education because at that age people do not understand how their nonchalant attitude could be detrimental to their life; that is, the concept of real world is still alien to them at that age.

Your model may work in Yankee, but in Nigeria, it would be unfair to students of lower socio-economic status who may otherwise be brilliant. I still believe that the least the government can do is to give everyone a chance, let the coursework itself sort people out.

tensor777:
You are right there. Even apart from that university education is pretty expensive and really universities should not serve as a remedial centre. There is still a high level of illiteracy and ignorance in the rural areas so resources should be prioritised to eliminating that rather than looking to produce yet more college graduates and white collar jobseekers.

Phucck you!

I hope you rot in here

You got lucky and now you no wan make we hia word again

I guess people like me and madam Kobo and SEFAGO should not have been trained!

Oloshi oloruburuku

Kini da fun e

Okada loma pae

Waku by Gun IJN!

[quote author=eku_bear link=topic=582709.msg7503651#msg7503651 date=1294688070]@Kobojunkie: I was thinking the US, Canada, Europe and the like. I dunno off the top of my head what the rates are though; perhaps you could google and supply us with those #s.

P[b]ersonally I'd feel comfortable with 20% or 25%.
[/b]
However, let me admit my own bias: having seen so many students go through four years of college in the US to work as bank tellers, marketers, or other careers that do not require a college education, I feel that too many kids in the US are going to college (understandable, since here a college degree is required for many jobs which do not need it.)[/quote]Not quite!

http://www.higheredinfo.org/dbrowser/?year=2008&level=nation&mode=data&state=0&submeasure=63

oyb:
not just nce

education is typically the bottom of the barrel in university admission as well.

and its often those who finish with third or pass that have no choice but to settle for teacher positions

It may well be true, but that doesnt mean that the students are receiving inferior education.

I really doubt if what you posted above is the norm. I have a feeling you ve posited a ready made,supposedly obvious, believable, easy, but wrong reason for the difficulty we seem to have with WAEC.  It is very well known that the so called first-class students arent really first class. When push comes to shove, most first class students, and high scoring JAMB and WAEC students, cannot really defend their results. The system is rotten I agree, but to blame it on the teachers as though they are solely responsible for student success is IMO just being disingenuous.

oyb:
highlights the failure of society

ask yourself, who are the people who become teachers in primary and secondary institutions today?

is it not those at the bottom of the barrel

who are the people that make it to college of education etal?

is it not those who failed jamb and  polyjamb?

Very insightful, but not always the case. NCE holders dont teach at the secondary level, do they?

SEFAGO:
Depends on what type of SAT score you are asking about. I knew like lots of kids in my secondary school who got >7As in WAEC and got 1250/1600 in SATs. These guys were smart oooh, no be small. I had a neighbor who got a 2100 in SATs did decently in WAEC <4As but got straight As in the A-levels and ended up at Oxford.
Nigerians tend to do less well in the SAT and better in cramming exams. It all depends on the individual. Also Nigerian WAEC exams are very straight forward- you have to cram for the exam and do past questions.
However this kind failing is too much. WAEC

very correct!

[quote author=tpia* link=topic=582604.msg7502605#msg7502605 date=1294677972]are you mixing up biafra with abiola's mandate.

according to wiki, biafra was declared on 30 may 1967.

correct me if i'm wrong.[/quote]War started on June 10, I think

Ibime:
All these talk about EPL etc no be am.

I don't think neither students nor teachers know the curriculum and so the revise "blindly" and haphazardly.

During my Junior WAEC, nothing our teachers taught us came out in the exam. They simply didn't know the curriculum well enough. Thank God I had bought the papers before hand.

I hate you!

[quote author=isale_gan2 link=topic=582073.msg7502423#msg7502423 date=1294676315]You're very contradictory.  I suspect you post to get a reaction, and yourself are very reactionary.  Do you know what an "agitprop" is?  An Agitator-Propagandist.  Except, I don't think you are propagandizing for any particular ideology.  You just revel in a little bit of shock value.  More like a rebel without a cause.    You're smart, I'll give you that.

I'm not ready. [/quote]HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA

Wanna join me in my psychiatry practice?

[quote author=isale_gan2 link=topic=582073.msg7502277#msg7502277 date=1294675217]Because of things you've said to me recently.  You probably don't remember.  Never mind.  Friends?  Let's shake on that!  Yeah, right![/quote]I have nothing personal against you. You seem like a nice person. I only attack what you say. Remember, if you cant stand the heat, get the hell out of the kitchen.


Richard Feynman once said: Ignore the person, focus on their ideas.

I think we will get along fine.

[quote author=isale_gan2 link=topic=582073.msg7502160#msg7502160 date=1294674536]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Hood_shooting

Oh.  I hadn't followed up on that since it happened.  Didn't realize he's paralyzed from the neck down.  Wow!  And he's in military jail. He wasn't suicidal then was he?

Stranger, you keep messing with me, a-ight.  I got your number! [/quote]I think he was suicidal!

Messing with you how?

Where in the US are you?

JeSoul:
A 9yr old girl shot and killed. The part that breaks my heart the most. I hope the others pull thru IC.

Why is the shooter still alive? If he had shot a cop he probably would not be still alive by now.

Who cares?

That is what they deserve!

White people are the most devilish people on planet earth.

What about the zillions of 9 yr olds Americans have killed all over the world!

oyb:
this from the 'i am mensa, bow to my humongous intellect spammer'

I think you are confusing me with SEFAGO.!

[quote author=isale_gan2 link=topic=582073.msg7501652#msg7501652 date=1294670277]You haven't got 2 quarters to rub together.

One weirdo with a gun is not a revolution.

What "military guy"?

Warning: You better be nice to me, or you'll be sorry![/quote]Captain Nidal Malik Hassan!

yes

Absolutely!


Any work is great work, including Okada work!

texazzpete:
He even spelt 'culled' as 'curled'! I dey laugh

'

And he used 'phantom' instead of fathom

I dey laugh ooooo

[quote author=~Bluetooth link=topic=582591.msg7501493#msg7501493 date=1294668646]maybe you should be grateful to that person that forced you cuz y[b]ou would have end up as an okada rider for a start. [/b] [/quote]I dont see anything wrong in being an okada rider

Work is work

Any work is good work. Ole ati ole lobomo je

^^^^

I was forced

Left to me, I would not have gone to school

I dont see the benefit!

^^^^

Dont be too quick to come to conclusion.

You dont have all the facts about any one's life.


My point is that they are bona fide members of the Nigerian society and as such should be allowed to participate as much as possible, literate or not!

Ibime:
Democracy is not run on the "settlement" and "kola nut" wisdom of our villages.

There are fundamental principles, such as are beyond the thought process of anyone who doesn't read up on democracy and law.

During the YarAdua imbroglio, an illiterates thought process would likely have assumed that another Northerner should take over from Yara, rather than follow the constitution which states that the VP take over.

That's why dem illiterate alamajiris in the North could not understand the consternation shown by Southerners at the undemocratic behaviour of the FEC and NASS.

That's just one example why illiterates should be banned from voting.

Translate the constitution into a language they can understand

Extend the same benevolence that you have enjoyed, from whosoever taught you how to read, to them

You sure did not fall from heaven knowing out to read; at least, we know that English language is not your language. Some one was kind enough to teach it to you. Why dont you do same to these illiterates?

[quote author=~Bluetooth link=topic=582591.msg7501114#msg7501114 date=1294665474]how do you now begin to sort the intelligent from the unintelligent ones ? why not just set a standard so that everybody can compete for it ?[/quote]How do you do that with the literate ones?

[quote author=~Bluetooth link=topic=582591.msg7500951#msg7500951 date=1294664018]just a few of them are intelligent. [/quote]SO you agree with me that some of these illiterates should not be disenfranchised?

[quote author=~Bluetooth link=topic=582591.msg7500851#msg7500851 date=1294663287]how many time do i have to give you my reasons ? we must [/b]raise the current level of our democracy.

haven't you heard of geniocracy before ? ([b]fools should not be allowed to vote )[/quote]Are you insinuating that any one who cannot read and write in English language is a FOOL?

sochan:
@Kobojunkie,

I have thrown you a challenge. Pack your things, come back to Nigeria, register, then vote. While you are at it take video evidence, and see if you will be around to tell the story. Until then I will advise you keep out of issues you know very little about.

Madam Kobo is better than that!

Only fools should do such menial jobs

Smart, IT professionals like madam Kobo, who is my NL crush, would only relocate if they could make N2 milla per month.

Obodo-oyinbo too sweet for madam Kobo to pack her stuff and go back home!

[quote author=~Bluetooth link=topic=582591.msg7500772#msg7500772 date=1294662520]disenfranchise of voting as delegate is what we are talking about here,which is what i support.these are people that control the grassroot movements

for political parties and they are expected to be well informed,not some morons who can't say no to greedy politicians in critical times. [/quote]Why are you changing the goal post like madam Kobo?

Stay on point: Why is it a crime for Nigerians who cannot write and read in English language not worthy to be voting delegates in our democracy?

Ibime:
An illiterate cannot sift through the issues cos he doesn't know how to read, so his decision on whom to vote for is based on who brought Garri and Rice to his village. What are illiterates doing as delegates in the first place?

The Amala politics of our PDP gangsters can only survive where there is proliferation of illiteracy.

The person who coined the phrase "illiteracy na disease" deserves a nobel prize because the disease of Nigeria is the enthronement of Vampires by illiterates and semi-illiterates.

And illiteracy doesn't necessarily mean inability to read and write. Inability to follow basic laws and procedures is illiteracy - as exhibited by many politicians.

We even have an illiterate in Aso Rock - Dame Patience.

Lets be clear, there is a difference between illiteracy and IQ

Most of this illiterate people are way smarter, and often times more industrious, that the so called literate populace.

It is very easy, change the medium of communication in our polity to our local language and you have the tables turned on all the so called "literate elite."