Photo credit: New Globe
Nigeria’s situation is generally that of a tail wagging the dog. Our secondary, primary and nursery schools are on vacation. After nine months of work, the pupils and teachers deserve some rest. However, how many of us parents and school proprietors actually let the pupils have that well deserved rest?
Just before their vacation, most schools, especially the privately owned ones, were in festivity. Their final year pupils were being released into the world.
However, we seem to have put the Nigerian factor into graduation ceremonies. When did we start indulging ourselves in dog and pony shows?
For instance, in our own days, nothing like valedictory service was held for us. And I can’t remember any school holding a graduation ceremony for its outgoing pupils.
But it’s a different ball game now. But why won’t it be?
Even artisans organise graduation ceremonies in which they don academic gowns. When we really critically consider it, they deserve it.
They are not only learned in the skills of their trade. They also understand the respective idiosyncrasies. If a client has paid for their services, they have learnt how to divert the money to other things. Then the lying game will start.
The kidnappers also have apprentices. When they have completed their tutelage, they are released into the world to start kidnapping and adultnapping. Of course, they must have learnt how to practically steal human beings. They would also learn how to keep the relations of their victims in suspense before contacting them. They also learn how to deal with the victims in ways that such unfortunate people, despite their unwarranted conditions, will be identifying with their captors.
The Yahoo boys too learn their trade’s shenanigans. How to make the initial link. How to be a catcher, buyer, or seller. How to make their victims feel they are doing them favours.
The armed robbers too learn their trade. Their own case is especially worthy of graduation. In the recessed economy that we have in Nigeria, people hardly have time to make alleged offenders face the wrath of the law, rather, jungle justice does it. In no time, tyres and petrol will just be surfacing.
The sex workers too need to graduate. During the cause of their apprenticeship, they would have learnt how to spot customers suffering from AIDS. They must have known how to spot petty thieves. Some even learn to identity trouble makers.
Even in government ministries, people learn on the job. It is when they have graduated that they are put in sensitive places. That’s why in spite of emoluments not being paid on time, government workers would still find their ways to work.
So, if parents of school leavers, no matter the level, decide to impress us, despite the rough times, that their children are going places, we shall celebrate with them.
We wouldn’t mind the fact that the proprietors are smiling to their banks.
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