When a college degree is the only means of survival

There is no doubt stressing the need for an education of any sort yet when formal  education becomes the only means for survival and there is no other path to a stable life then perhaps the system already in place needs to a double check and the much needed changed be applied. Nigeria just like other countries needs the brain power of its citizens to operate at its best if the country is to move forward and in most cases the means to such a state is via a formal and well-structured educational system but for education to be the only means for survival and source of livelihood brings to question if the need for a strictly formal education is sometimes over stressed and  if there should indeed be an alternate way to say various less formal training  and wholesome development. In Nigeria just like most of the third world countries and growing economies the need for a college degree is overemphasized even as the numbers of graduates continue to grow over the already limited and insufficient chances of employment.  Arguments like whether only a certain level of education (college degree) breeds innovation could very much be considered a fail as a look at the greatest innovators of this centuries and even the ones before does not necessarily reflect those with the highest number and levels of diplomas in their generations, take the case of one of the greatest scientists to ever grace the earth Albert Einstein who resented the strict learning methods of one of his schools  and went on to fail an entrance examination into a then secondary school in Switzerland and had to move abroad for one, though he later went on to be awarded a PhD. By a University and soon became a professor the fact that he too once rebelled the system brings to question its methods.

    In our times the list of billionaire drop outs is endless from Sir. Richard Branson of the brand virgin which includes Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin Records  and other companies over three hundred in number to kirk Kerkorian who dropped out of school in the 8^th grade and is currently worth over 18 billion USD and boasts of stakes in ventures like New York New York, MGM Grand, the Mirage, Circus Circus and more, the list goes on to include the more known ones like Bill Gates of Microsoft, the late Steve jobs of Apple, Michael Dell of Dell computers, Ralf Lauren  of polo Ralf Lauren, Larry Ellison of Oracle corporation and every one in between. Also the  believe that a  college degree is a sure way to a higher paid job (better life) has dealt a serious blow on the psychic of many students  years after graduation, this makes one  wonder and brings to mind many questions. For example if we were to see Education as an investment, (which in this in this troubling world economies everyone should) would we say it has always been profitable? Giving the seemingly rising costs of a good education all around the world and a continues hike in college tuition fee which do not after all guarantee any jobs or a better means of livelihood upon graduation.

   Countries like China and others in Asia are much applauded for their strict and rather rigid educational systems which see their students excelling in science and mathematics competition across the globe and even beating their European counterparts in such competitions and the  overall result felt in their now booming economies yet we must ask ourselves at what price, and how far is too much a pressure for kids and young adults who are made to see  no other road to success but through the letter “A” grade  and strict learning environments which has according to experts has resulted to the skyrocketing of suicides among those who feel they don’t measure up or don’t stand a chance with the other academic geeks. One in every five high school students in such countries are said to have contemplated suicides at one point or another as a result of a society obsessed with, with grades, academic excellence and its strict policies. All through time academic experts have tried to stress the balance between an academic and social life (a wholesome curriculum) yet parents and school boards continue to overlook such importance and society refuses to let go its obsession with grades and academic qualifications alike.   

     Recently an America  investor Peter Thiel made a move most people would consider controversial but I see as a good change for a start when he offered a 100,000 USD each to 24 talented undergraduate students to drop out of school and pursue their entrepreneur ideas/dreams his argument been that colleges and universities hold people back in achieving what they want and are ready to do and that they do a poor job at promoting innovation. If such a  case could be made of American institutions and yet hold ground when America is considered to hold the highest number of best institutions of higher learning followed by Britain then I don’t know what could be said of Nigerian institutions of higher learning that are marred by striking unions poor infrastructure then  certainly those in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the developing world can be said to kill dreams since students spend a better part of their lives going through the educational system and another significant part seeking jobs that are nowhere to be found. Until conscious efforts are made by governments and societies to curb the current epidemic of over reliance on a strictly academic education even when some people are clearly better off without it we will continue to lose the benefits that would otherwise be gained by people who could excel more if there were provided with the environment for an informal education and if society choose to see them as equals and not secondary because of some paper qualification gained.