Africa,s problem is trusting paper degree over skills and knowledge

[Yeesha]

Students go to university to learn more than what is taught in primary and secondary schools. Because universities are institutions of higher knowledge, research, critical thinking and the creation of new knowledge. But today, when compared with European and colonial education, there are huge differences.

In that time under their rule, the purpose of education in many African regions was to produce a limited number of workers for their administration, religious institutions and colonial economies. As a result, education in many areas was not sufficiently linked to real production, technology, industry and research. As a result, we are still colonized after hundreds of years, and it is a never-ending process.

Today's problem is not only the problem of degrees but also in many African countries, even though graduates come out of universities, their skills do not match the job demand in the labor market. On the other hand, there is a demand for skilled workers in almost every field such as: agriculture and technology, manufacturing, software, healthcare, engineering, logistics, etc.Therefore, even if African people have degrees, they are not producing a skilled workforce to work.

The European's master outsmarted the Africans. Because the Europeans used practical methods in terms of teaching to make learning more easier and understandable to the students, and at the end of the day, they provide a creative, lucrative and productive students. while Africans focus mainly on spelling, reading and writing and I don't think that's a good strategy. When you see a lesson note of African teacher (tutor) the place that they usually write methods of teaching, the thing that most of them usually put their is "explanation, or demonstrations and examples" they hardly write practical. And besides they lack the equipments which are required to carryout practicals in terms of learning.

[DrBeer]

Students go to university to learn more than what is taught in primary and secondary schools. Because universities are institutions of higher knowledge, research, critical thinking and the creation of new knowledge. But today, when compared with European and colonial education, there are huge differences.

In that time under their rule, the purpose of education in many African regions was to produce a limited number of workers for their administration, religious institutions and colonial economies. As a result, education in many areas was not sufficiently linked to real production, technology, industry and research. As a result, we are still colonized after hundreds of years, and it is a never-ending process.

Today's problem is not only the problem of degrees but also in many African countries, even though graduates come out of universities, their skills do not match the job demand in the labor market. On the other hand, there is a demand for skilled workers in almost every field such as: agriculture and technology, manufacturing, software, healthcare, engineering, logistics, etc.Therefore, even if African people have degrees, they are not producing a skilled workforce to work.

The European's master outsmarted the Africans. Because the Europeans used practical methods in terms of teaching to make learning more easier and understandable to the students, and at the end of the day, they provide a creative, lucrative and productive students. while Africans focus mainly on spelling, reading and writing and I don't think that's a good strategy. When you see a lesson note of African teacher (tutor) the place that they usually write methods of teaching, the thing that most of them usually put their is "explanation, or demonstrations and examples" they hardly write practical. And besides they lack the equipments which are required to carryout practicals in terms of learning.

To understand the modern world, we need to "delve deep into history".

Two thousand years ago, there were already fairly well-developed states in both Europe and Africa. While most people know about Europe, not many are aware of these facts regarding Africa. In Africa at that time, there were several WELL-DEVELOPED states:
The Kingdom of Aksum (the territory of modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea): One of the greatest states of its time. Aksum minted its own gold coins, had a writing system (Ge’ez), built gigantic stone obelisks (stelae), and controlled the most important trade routes between Rome, India, and Persia. Shortly thereafter, Axum became one of the first states in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion (earlier than most European countries).
Kush and the Meroitic Kingdom (Sudan): Egypt’s southern neighbor. It had its own unique writing system, advanced metallurgy (Meroe was called the "Birmingham of Ancient Africa" due to the massive scale of its iron smelting), and architecture. Dozens of pyramids still stand in Meroe, built at the same time the Romans were constructing the Colosseum.
North Africa (Carthage, Numidia, Mauretania): For centuries, Carthage was Rome’s chief and most dangerous rival.
After its fall, all of North Africa became the "breadbasket" of the Roman Empire. The greatest thinkers of that era (such as the Christian philosopher St. Augustine) lived and worked in Africa.

But from there on, the continents took different paths of development. Europe stretched from east to west, from China to the shores of Portugal, and boasted a fairly mild climate, numerous trade routes, fertile lands, and a wide variety of animals suitable for domestication.
The picture in Africa was the opposite - stretching from north to south, with a very challenging climate and the Sahara cutting across the continent, complicating logistics in those days. Additionally, as historians note, a very significant NEGATIVE factor was the tsetse fly, which essentially prevented the development of animal husbandry.
As a result, Europe was able to build a network of states and actively develop science, while African countries were unable to achieve this. "Civilization" came to Africa in the form of colonists, and the economy became primarily based on raw materials, which also did not contribute to the development of science. Consequently, by the 20th century, African countries did not have a population that, for the most part, possessed the basic knowledge and skills necessary to absorb knowledge beyond the basics (writing, reading). Any other knowledge would simply have been useless and incomprehensible.
Try visiting a tribe and lecturing them on quantum computing - you’ll get the same result.

By the way, here’s a question: Most African countries have been independent and self-governing for more than 50 years now. The question is: Who has been preventing them from developing education and science over the past 50 years to make up for the "trickery of the Europeans" in the past?
 

[Obari]

One of the disease eating up Africa's development was the brainwashed the European slave masters gave to them about school. They were taught how to read and write what the Europeans wrote,no skills attached,no knowledge just know how to read and write. Today, the world has gone beyond you just acquiring degrees to you acquiring skills and knowledge. The world economy is been revolutionized and Africa lacks the man power to do that . Africans just attend universities to learn  more than what they learnt in primary and secondary schools.

I don't agree with this because it seems insulting to me with regards to the fact that, Africans are truly very smart people and very skilled humans, yes I understand that our continent has no human capital development, that doesn't mean that we are just focused on schooling and yes we accepted schooling and education because it has teach morales and socialization and considering the vest different in language, English has generally helped shaped our mode of communication and even making it easier.

What I am saying in essence is that Africans are truly very skilled and intellectually sound people and there are no white or foreign country you'll go to and you wouldn't find Africans in almost all sectors of the economy contributing massively to the growth of that economy.

[Obulis]

Bullshit. Africa's biggest problem is having shit politicians and a horrible system. The same Europeans that give us schools and degrees are doing the same thing, yet they have better countries. Schools are still at the forefront of the world today. In fact, I can make an argument that the reason Africa is like this is that our educational system is too poor. And the educational system is poor because we have greedy leaders who only care about themselves. They don't care about making the country a better place for people to live in.

The fact that we are blaming schools for the situation in Africa shows how messed up we are. Look at the best countries in the world; they have the best education systems. Do you think a country will have people intelligent enough to build revolutionary innovation without schools and an education? Today in Africa, we have leaders who don't even have first degrees, and you can see the difference. The past two leaders of my country, Nigeria, don't have first degrees, and you can see the obvious difference between them and the one before them.

In fact, it is because Africa is so messed up that you'll tell people who have degrees to get a skill. Don't you see how insane that is? That a person who has spent years learning a field would need to get another skill just to survive. That is a sign of a failed system. I sense a lot of ignorance in your post.

Hitting the nail on the head! Well doing countries has world leading schools and well organized skills centers which are part of education. With all that difference why won't their be development difference? Roads that you are going to spend ordinarily 5 hours can go on to take the whole day and this will affect the individual directly and the economy indirectly all because of looted funds, now what has that to do with schools? Is it because there are schools that those money where looted? The system of leadership in Africa is directly and indirectly broad daylight inhumanity and that's a big problem that has even refused to build good schools because it is not a news how every nation needs organized learning usually offered in schools and other education centers (semi schools).

[coupable]

Yeah, things has really changed in Africa, many people are more interested in skill before going to school for degree,  the government are not employing and many degree holders are on the street with a job, this generation don't think school first but having a skill that's demanding first.

If you have not skill you can't survive in Africa, no good jobs out there, you hVe to sort your wY out by engaging in skill for self employment. With your skill you can create job for others.  Content creating is another aspect of social media the Africans are using to feed family today,  we have many creators in Africa that are doing well for themselves.

Your tone sounds so optimistic to think that what you think is a good sign to change the reality or even the near future. How could I convince someone with a high degree in history or in philosophy or even in literature that he lost all his efforts he spent over the past twenty years and that he has to learn a nowadays skill to get a good job? What is the skill that a young man in his thirties can learn knowing that he has a master's degree in arts or in managing archives? By responding to my questions, you will conclude that your idea is far from reality.

[Princess Leah]

~~

Your tone sounds so optimistic to think that what you think is a good sign to change the reality or even the near future. How could I convince someone with a high degree in history or in philosophy or even in literature that he lost all his efforts he spent over the past twenty years and that he has to learn a nowadays skill to get a good job? What is the skill that a young man in his thirties can learn knowing that he has a master's degree in arts or in managing archives? By responding to my questions, you will conclude that your idea is far from reality.

If you're an African you won't argue over what he's saying especially those from East and West Africa where someone would spend time studying in higher institutions then graduate with very good grades but getting a job becomes a problem cause you’ll need connections or sell your body if you're a woman just to get one.

 Someone with a high degree in history and philosophy can barely get a good paying job in my country but with a skill like content creation,  copy writing, ghost writing and so on, the chances of surving and earning more would be far better than just relying on getting a job with your degree. If many undergraduates can earn cool money through content creation then someone with a degree stands a better chance and that's on period.

[Cookdata]

If you're an African you won't argue over what he's saying especially those from East and West Africa where someone would spend time studying in higher institutions then graduate with very good grades but getting a job becomes a problem cause you’ll need connections or sell your body if you're a woman just to get one.

 Someone with a high degree in history and philosophy can barely get a good paying job in my country but with a skill like content creation,  copy writing, ghost writing and so on, the chances of surving and earning more would be far better than just relying on getting a job with your degree. If many undergraduates can earn cool money through content creation then someone with a degree stands a better chance and that's on period.

I like the fact that there is a general wake up call for everyone in west Africa that depending on school certificate to get a job is no longer working. It's either you go to school while in it get a skill or travel of the country for education and hope you stay behind after getting the certificate. There are some certain old courses that you can study in western countries that will get you good paying jobs but I don't think you are guaranteed of any job even as a medical student, that's why many medical doctors are leaving Africa for better place they are valued.

I hope things change for good but as it is, the number of graduates with certificate are 3x if not more than the number of jobs, high demand less jobs, it's unbearable and the culture of getting educated is dying. One way or the other, it's going to have a tremendous effect on everyone even if it's not now, it will in the future.

[Princess Leah]

~~

I like the fact that there is a general wake up call for everyone in west Africa that depending on school certificate to get a job is no longer working. It's either you go to school while in it get a skill or travel of the country for education and hope you stay behind after getting the certificate. There are some certain old courses that you can study in western countries that will get you good paying jobs but I don't think you are guaranteed of any job even as a medical student, that's why many medical doctors are leaving Africa for better place they are valued.

I hope things change for good but as it is, the number of graduates with certificate are 3x if not more than the number of jobs, high demand less jobs, it's unbearable and the culture of getting educated is dying. One way or the other, it's going to have a tremendous effect on everyone even if it's not now, it will in the future.

I sincerely hope things change too cause the whole thing is becoming so messed up and frustrating for many people. However, when the desired isn't available, the available becomes the desired. What I'm trying to say is that people have to survive for the time being and the ones who can't secure a good paying job would have to get a skill to earn and survive.

 I weep for my country the very moment "school is a scam slogan started trending" and if you interact with people who think so, they'll tell you that one would go to school, graduate with good grades but find it very difficult to secure better jobs except they travel out of the country, a failed system is now giving youths a wrong impression about education, very bad.

[rachael9385]

Well, I don't think every country in Africa has this mindset, take Nigeria for example, the rate of unemployment is very high and due to this reason it has raised an awareness for people to learn a skill even though they still prioritize getting a degree. It would surprise you if you did a statistical view of the population of Nigerians that have a skill, both young and old, a lot of them have become self employed as a result of these skills that they possess. It is unwise to have a degree without having something to back up. Having a degree doesn't guarantee chances of making Income especially in Africa.

[Smartvirus]

With your skill you can create job for others.  Content creating is another aspect of social media the Africans are using to feed family today,  we have many creators in Africa that are doing well for themselves.

Your tone sounds so optimistic to think that what you think is a good sign to change the reality or even the near future. How could I convince someone with a high degree in history or in philosophy or even in literature that he lost all his efforts he spent over the past twenty years and that he has to learn a nowadays skill to get a good job? What is the skill that a young man in his thirties can learn knowing that he has a master's degree in arts or in managing archives? By responding to my questions, you will conclude that your idea is far from reality.

I think we are foregoing or over looking something here; that skill doesn’t necessarily mean you would be a handy man and can archive some task by fiddling with some tools and more.
Even writing in itself is a skill, a skill many might have but, haven’t got the ability to harness it and be more creative.

This is where those guys that study courses such as literature, philosophy, history and more can come in. They didn’t waste nothing, they just need to find the best means to apply what they’ve learnt and they would be able to make a living off it. It’s not necessarily getting a job with the certificate, it’s applying the concept from your studies and it still works just fine.

[Smack That Ace]

The European's master outsmarted the Africans. Because the Europeans used practical methods in terms of teaching to make learning more easier and understandable to the students, and at the end of the day, they provide a creative, lucrative and productive students. while Africans focus mainly on spelling, reading and writing and I don't think that's a good strategy.

African have been unable to transform education system established by European during colonial era. Primary reason for this cannot simply be attributed to flawed method.

Fundamentally shortage of resource has slowed their improvement. Likewise poor management and corruption are mostly accountable for this trouble.

I think, progress of their education sector is unthinkable without vast infrastructural evolution. Afaik they lack adequate educational material and sufficient laboratory facility. Moreover since most African nation are impoverished I think there is stark disparity between urban and rural education system. I have some relatives in African country, so I know there are several institution in urban area that maintain European standard. Same time it remain true that when considering continent as a whole education in Africa lags significantly behind. Actually people of Africa remain disadvantaged due to governmental inefficiency and infrastructural weaknesses.

-Duke

[SatoPrincess]

Yeah, things has really changed in Africa, many people are more interested in skill before going to school for degree,  the government are not employing and many degree holders are on the street with a job, this generation don't think school first but having a skill that's demanding first.

If you have not skill you can't survive in Africa, no good jobs out there, you hVe to sort your wY out by engaging in skill for self employment. With your skill you can create job for others.  Content creating is another aspect of social media the Africans are using to feed family today,  we have many creators in Africa that are doing well for themselves.

Your tone sounds so optimistic to think that what you think is a good sign to change the reality or even the near future. How could I convince someone with a high degree in history or in philosophy or even in literature that he lost all his efforts he spent over the past twenty years and that he has to learn a nowadays skill to get a good job? What is the skill that a young man in his thirties can learn knowing that he has a master's degree in arts or in managing archives? By responding to my questions, you will conclude that your idea is far from reality.

You over exaggerate the situation. People don’t spend 20 years in universities, and even if you add the years in high school you’d face 9-10 years in total.

Asides from that point, I believe a 30 year old adult should be able to recognise opportunities in other industries apart from the career path they studied in school. Imo you wasted your money and time in university if you graduate and don’t have any transferable skills you can use in different roles.

[fruktik]

It’s not just an African issue but it’s majorly in Africa. I mean we still have schools who are still using an old scheme of work which was created in the 90s to run a school in this modern world.
I think Education is the training of the mind to think, it goes beyond reading and writing. Most of these issues is because people are so streamlined to a certain pattern that they don’t think outside the box. Which is why We aren’t producers or manufacturers of many things, just majorly consumers.
I’m happy now that people are beginning to be more creative and think outside the box now in my country what holds us back is bad leaders who are only after their personal gains and not the greater good.

Yes, this is precisely the kind of formulaic knowledge that has become obsolete in today's world. The government has no desire to make radical changes to the education system. It has no need for modern individuals who possess extensive knowledge and skills—or who hold information that could threaten the stability of the country's governance.

The world has changed drastically over the past thirty years, yet standard school education has remained at a standstill. The only thing the authorities are capable of changing is rewriting history to suit their own agenda. The truth remains in the hands of the elite.

[Yeesha]

African have been unable to transform education system established by European during colonial era. Primary reason for this cannot simply be attributed to flawed method.

Fundamentally shortage of resource has slowed their improvement. Likewise poor management and corruption are mostly accountable for this trouble.

I think, progress of their education sector is unthinkable without vast infrastructural evolution. Afaik they lack adequate educational material and sufficient laboratory facility. Moreover since most African nation are impoverished I think there is stark disparity between urban and rural education system. I have some relatives in African country, so I know there are several institution in urban area that maintain European standard. Same time it remain true that when considering continent as a whole education in Africa lags significantly behind. Actually people of Africa remain disadvantaged due to governmental inefficiency and infrastructural weaknesses.

-Duke

You used all your efforts and power to underrate Africa, but i still can't deny that, because, unfortunately, all you've said is nothing but the truth. Africa is still lagging behind in terms of every/ many things that concerns the growth and development of the countries. Poor educational system, lack of social amenities in some areas, lack of agricultural infrastructure, and poor managerial tools, increase in the cost of transportation due to the increase in the prices of oil and gas, unavailability of medical equipments, and most importantly lack of job opportunities. With all this problems, we cannot ensure the steady growth and development of Africa, until all these issues are addressed properly and things are being put in order.

[Bright0515]

It is not about Africa but it is about the individuals, prioritizing a degree is not the problem of a continent because still in the same Africa you are talking about some people prioritize getting a skill over a degree, it is just based on individual perspective. The context of what you are probably talking about is the rate at which there's poor provision of Job opportunities and yet the every country in the continent records a significant increase in the number of graduates. In the Western countries a lot of people trust paper degree over skills but knowledge is also vital, you cannot be called an expert in a particular field of study without knowledge.

[sokani]

Op made it sound as if education or acquiring a degree certificate was the problem. I know we are told to get a degree to secure a bright future, and after graduating, there are no jobs, leaving many frustrated, helpless, and maybe even into crimes. However, that is still not a valid reason to pin Africa's problem on being too reliant on degree certificates. Education is part of civilization, and Africa needed it. Africa's major problems are bad leadership, greed, corruption, unaccountability, etc. Many African leaders are evil and corrupt, and they have colluded with Westerners to exploit the continent and keep the masses in poverty.

[DrBeer]

Op made it sound as if education or acquiring a degree certificate was the problem. I know we are told to get a degree to secure a bright future, and after graduating, there are no jobs, leaving many frustrated, helpless, and maybe even into crimes. However, that is still not a valid reason to pin Africa's problem on being too reliant on degree certificates. Education is part of civilization, and Africa needed it. Africa's major problems are bad leadership, greed, corruption, unaccountability, etc. Many African leaders are evil and corrupt, and they have colluded with Westerners to exploit the continent and keep the masses in poverty.

I have a hunch that we’re getting a little confused about what "qualifications" actually mean. It’s not just about a diploma. To be more precise, having a diploma doesn’t guarantee that you have knowledge, just as not having one doesn’t mean you lack knowledge.
The issue is the accessibility of education (for those who genuinely want to gain knowledge) and the market’s ability to utilize such specialists. Regarding the first point - who can say what the situation is like in African countries in terms of educational standards (we’re talking about higher education) and the opportunity to go to another country to obtain the desired specialty?

[Sobz]

It is not about Africa but it is about the individuals, prioritizing a degree is not the problem of a continent because still in the same Africa you are talking about some people prioritize getting a skill over a degree, it is just based on individual perspective. The context of what you are probably talking about is the rate at which there's poor provision of Job opportunities and yet the every country in the continent records a significant increase in the number of graduates. In the Western countries a lot of people trust paper degree over skills but knowledge is also vital, you cannot be called an expert in a particular field of study without knowledge.

It is not a problem of only Africa snd this mindset also exist in other places.  I will say this is the mindset of many persons in the past. Before now the level of unemployment rate was not high like we have today. In years ago getting the easiest way of getting a job was hoing to school to obtain a degree and  the job was their for every graduate. But because of high employment all over the world people are beginning to have a change in mindset because relying on job to get a degree is not worth it. Their are different ways on how money can be made, without a degree and this doesn't mean having a degree is of no use or irrelevant.

[Unknown Op]

The European's master outsmarted the Africans. Because the Europeans used practical methods in terms of teaching to make learning more easier and understandable to the students, and at the end of the day, they provide a creative, lucrative and productive students. while Africans focus mainly on spelling, reading and writing and I don't think that's a good strategy. When you see a lesson note of African teacher (tutor) the place that they usually write methods of teaching, the thing that most of them usually put their is "explanation, or demonstrations and examples" they hardly write practical. And besides they lack the equipments which are required to carryout practicals in terms of learning.

You are right. Europe is ahead not only of Africa but also of most countries in the world, as Africa has different countries; there are small countries that have no alliances, and that is making them weaker than other nations because United Nations has the power to do anything and their education system is based on practical things, which are most important in life. Students have creative minds, and they can create new things for human beings, which is best step for next generation. Grammar and spelling are good but it will not create more jobs and there will be more jobs if people are creative. The people who are living in USA or Europe have higher class education because their knowledge is based on practical knowledge, not only theoretical.

[Oluwa-btc]

Surely the European slave masters should have not taught literacy to Africa, instead they should have let the people there stay savages and cavemen. What the fuck are you even talking about? Europe is the only reason for which Africa is not in the stone age right now, you should be bowing down to the Gods that have saved you. I despise Europeans for various reasons of their stupidity, but give thanks where it is due. You would have been nothing without Europe, you were animal savages and you are still not able to get past your stupid tribalism despite of the intervention by Europe. It would have been better to keep Africa under colonialism for another couple years, like this is it is ruined and barely progressing.

Nobody taught literacy to Africans. You can look it up, even the Greeks admitted to have settled and learnt from Egyptians involved in early writing. I thought you should know better ( Omini-knowest, Mr smarty ) 
Over 400 hundred years of taking and plundering and you keep saying that BS! We shouldn't be bowing down, we're not inferior people with inferior mindset or that a race would one day out shine us, no, it should be the opposite. Africa was enough and remains enough, we all know how the Europeans need us more than we even need them. Keep on being delusional. You didn't save shit, you killed, stole, lynched and committed all kinds of grave atrocious crime against humanity and you're on here rewriting bs. Maybe before you brand us animals, take a good look at your lip and you could tell who is the better animal and savages.

Till date, Europeans practice more barbarism and savagery, the Epstein files are examples but keep shifting and evading. Intervention my black ass it should be invasion and colonisation. If you think that way, then the English shouldn't have helped you gain independence, so you'd be speaking French. For someone who thinks he is so smart, you don't even know that 3 to four African countries are one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Mr omniscient ain't shit after all!

In between, we're grateful for the highs and lows, we will rise.