Then, as I was moving accross Lagos, I saw some Youth playing virtual bet. I saw some smoking. I saw some playing football in the street.
I thought of how do we create spaces for this Youth. It is through Education. But its quite unfortunate that our Educational System has made lot of us unconscious. It has made us not to be able to question the status quo and perform our civic right. So, how do we create a safe civic space for our Youth? Through Education! The ability for people to say no to political thuggery without being scared. The ability to run for office without being scared. The ability to hold the government accountable for delivery. The ability to start a business and thrive.
How do we create a safe space in our educational sector. Where children really go to school and learn. According to World Bank (2018), Many children goes to school but do not learn. Children who do not learn will become Youth and they will also become adults. How would a child spend two or three years in school without learning to read a single word or reach the end of primary school without learning to do two digit substraction. How would such child achieve the higher goals of education?
How do we create safe space in our educational sector? When students cannot learn skills that will enable them to launch new companies or analyze great work of literature or research. When students cannot focus because of deprivation. When teachers lack pedagogical skills and motivation to engage students. When materials meant for the classroom never reach it because of poor management and the system cannot meet the needs of the society.
Educate the children, because the same children will become Youth, Fathers, Mothers, Civil Servants, Business Owners Etc.
Reference: World Bank (2018). Restoring the Education Promise.
#YouthDay #SafeSpaces4Youth
*Hammed Kayode Alabi ©2018*
