The student is like a traveller; but before a man can travel with enjoyment and
profit, he needs both preparation and experience. First, he must understand the language
of the people among whom he is to trave. Second, if he is wise, he will, on arriving,
find a reliable guide who can point out to him the chief features of distinction and
interest. After this, he will be equipped to wander by himself and make his own
discoveries... Otherwise, he or she will be bewildered and go astray.
H. B. Drake,
1939.
In his 2006 TED talk, the late Sir Ken Robinson declared, “school kills creativity”; perhaps
more accurately, “school kills children's love for learning.” But is this truly so? Somewhat!
But does school intentionally intend this? No. It's all due to the complexity of schooling.
Schooling is a multifaceted journey presenting students with myriad challenges, making it
complex and often overwhelming. The complexity stems from lack of understanding about
different factors like the nature of the school system, meaning of education and how to
attain it, learning processes, knowledge acquisition processes, skill development processes,
career choices, etc. As students navigate this journey, from mastering complex concepts in
different subjects to connecting the dots to real-world situations, they encounter twists
and turns that either propel them forward or leave them struggling behind.
Schooling has always been a period of exploration, growth, and self-discovery. However, for
many students, it is a time of anxiety, doubt, and disconnection. The lack of guidance,
support, and relevant information about many concepts that needed to be explained has
hindered so many students' progress, leading to disengagement, frustration, and a sense of
being lost, some even drop out altogether. And for many who stay, having managed to go
through schooling, often in ignorance of what truly counts – which many hardly obtain in
the process – they, as graduates, frequently face frustration when society starts asking
them for those things they ought to have obtained to thrive in an increasingly interconnected
world.
How can one possess what one hasn’t obtained, and how can one obtain what one has no idea
about? Or, how can one effectively gain from a process one hardly understands? Schooling for
most students is like Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams for his wise men. It’s no wonder why most
graduates in Nigeria struggle to reflect true education in society, and that is why targeted
support and guidance are needed – to help students unravel the complexities surrounding
schooling and learning processes, discover their strengths, and chart a successful path –
because “no child deserves to go astray while learning to find their way”.
Building on this, School Way is addressing four areas where a lack of understanding can
hinder students' schooling experiences and their impacts.
Here are the four areas of our focus and what we do. We have made it our mission to:
- Ensure every student properly understands the school system and the true meaning of
education.
Why does this matter? A proper understanding of a system is needed to get the best result
from it. Our education system seems ineffective because most of our students’ understanding
of education and the school system is not proper and in serious need of review. This faulty
understanding dictates their foci, dispositions, and expectations. The true result, however,
is the reality of most graduates. We must correct this error for our children and students
to help them attain an education that works and positively impacts our society.
Our activity on this aspect focuses on helping students possess fundamental knowledge
about the school system and how to leverage its benefits for personal growth and
professional development, and also help them understand the true meaning of education
to enable them work towards its attainment at every opportunity.
Check out the programme
- Ensure every student makes informed career choices and decisions.
The challenge of choosing the right and appropriate profession to pursue has significantly
impacted many students, leaving them uncertain about their future paths. Many struggle to
identify their interests and strengths, and as a result, find it challenging to understand
the various professions available to them. This uncertainty often leads to indecision and
anxiety, with students feeling pressured to choose a path without fully knowing what aligns
with their passions and abilities. Consequently, some students make misaligned choices,
pursuing professions that aren't right for them, which can lead to dissatisfaction or even
dropping out.
Our focus in addressing the complexity of career choice and development is to help students
make informed profession choices based on self-understanding, true reflection of their
capabilities, and awareness of obtainable opportunities.
Check
out the programme
- Equip every student with the knowledge of effective study and learning strategies.
Knowledge, a main component of education – commonly referred to as “academics”, is the outcome
of studying and learning. The misunderstanding about how effective study and learning should be
done poses a significant challenge for students, often hindering their academic progress and
overall success. One major hurdle is the lack of understanding about how to learn best, leading
to inefficient study habits, poor retention of material, increased stress and frustration, and
a loss of their love for learning.
Moreover, while some students excel academically, the actual result of this, which is effective
application of the knowledge, is hindered since many rely on rote memorization rather than deep
understanding, ultimately affecting their ability to apply knowledge in real-world contexts, and
that's because they lack knowledge of effective learning strategies.
To overcome these challenges, active learning strategies are the solution – this will enable them
to take ownership of their learning, become more resilient, and achieve academic success beyond
school. Spreading the knowledge of this along with guidance and support in applying them is our
mission here.
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- Ensure every student has knowledge of essential skills and possess them.
Exhibition of skills is the major definition of education, without which, education has not
been attained. It is widely acknowledged that the major challenge confronting Nigerian graduates
and students today is a lack of essential skills. According to the Jobberman Foundation's 2022
report, approximately 60% of Nigerian graduates lack the necessary skills for available jobs.
This is a pressing issue that deserves urgent attention and collective action to bridge the gap
for our young people to be career-ready at graduation.
And the root cause of this challenge, as our 2023 research on this issue revealed, is a lack of
awareness – most students and undergraduates have no knowledge of the skills they need to develop
for their future careers, and few who know lack understanding about how to develop them.
Consequently, many graduate unprepared, struggling to succeed in the workforce. The question is:
how can one possess skills they haven't developed, and how can they develop skills they aren't
aware they need? This is where School Way comes in.
Our activity here creates awareness of in-demand professional skills among students, helps them
understand how to start developing them in school, and teaches them how to maximize every learning
opportunity schools offer for effective knowledge acquisition and skills development.
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We understand that schools aren't equal in terms of resources to unlock every child's
potential, but a child who understands how to maximize the available learning
opportunities his or her school offers through its available resources will succeed,
nonetheless. Our goal is to help students understand how to leverage their school's
resources for personal and professional growth.