TakingITGlobal - Panorama - Cultural Education

Published on: Sep 9, 2011

Topic:

Type: Opinions

https://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=31921

There has always been so much buzz about education. World leaders always say education is a major way to eradicate poverty in developing and under developed countries.What then is this education they constantly talk about? or better still what kind of education is being talked about. No gain saying, education is a necessity, it is a must for any individual. It is a powerful tool for the development of any society. The western countries have used education to enhance their development and keep up with development.

But the question that forms constantly in my mind is, what type of education is it? By education, are we referring to western education, that teaches us how to read, write and speak a certain western language, or do we refer to an education that teaches indigenous culture, language, customs, values and way of life? Can the education being referred to be religious education? In some circles they talk about Sharia Law and Islamic education in mosques, or do they refer to Christian education like the missionaries of old brought to our forefathers that were taught in the churches? All of these are various forms of education, that are needful to human development.

But for the purpose of this discussion, I would prefer to share my opinions on cultural education, that is, education that teaches us about our culture. I am proud to say that every race, every ethnic group all around the world each has a rich, diverse culture. From the Inuit of Nunavut in Canada to the Yoruba people of Nigeria, or the Indians, Japanese, Italians, all of which boast of very rich interesting culture.
My opinion is that every society should not only advocate for the ability of its citizens to read and write in whatever language, but each society should also advocate for a mass cultural education of its people. Bringing my opinion to my own society in Nigeria,where the modern day young Nigerian cannot speak his/her mother tongue properly, or interpret proverbs and adages. I believe that as much as there is a campaign to ensure every child receives the basic education, and learns how to read and write, there should also be a deliberate effort geared towards the cultural education of young Nigerians. I speak of myself and for a couple of people I have interacted with, I believe that education should be much more than western education, or religious education but an incorporation of cultural education. Our indigenous culture has woven into its fabrics values for human lives, respect for each other, reward for hard work, and punishment for laziness and crime. Cultural education opens our eyes to who we are as a people, and teaches about what makes us the people we are.

It is this thought that has caused me to indite my opinion, and hope that somehow, we would as young people be able to cause a change in our educational system. If we cannot change it, then we can look for alternative ways to educate ourselves culturally. I admonish that we should henceforth educate ourselves culturally, so that we can be a proud people, a proud race, whose posterity would forever live on with an identity.

All of this being said, I in no way antagonize western education, and am totally grateful to the western education I have received that causes me to be able to interact with other people around the world.

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by Wright
Published on: Sep 9, 2011
Topic:
Type: Opinions
https://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=31921


There has always been so much buzz about education. World leaders always say education is a major way to eradicate poverty in developing and under developed countries.What then is this education they constantly talk about? or better still what kind of education is being talked about. No gain saying, education is a necessity, it is a must for any individual. It is a powerful tool for the development of any society. The western countries have used education to enhance their development and keep up with development. But the question that forms constantly in my mind is, what type of education is it? By education, are we referring to western education, that teaches us how to read, write and speak a certain western language, or do we refer to an education that teaches indigenous culture, language, customs, values and way of life? Can the education being referred to be religious education? In some circles they talk about Sharia Law and Islamic education in mosques, or do they refer to Christian education like the missionaries of old brought to our forefathers that were taught in the churches? All of these are various forms of education, that are needful to human development. But for the purpose of this discussion, I would prefer to share my opinions on cultural education, that is, education that teaches us about our culture. I am proud to say that every race, every ethnic group all around the world each has a rich, diverse culture. From the Inuit of Nunavut in Canada to the Yoruba people of Nigeria, or the Indians, Japanese, Italians, all of which boast of very rich interesting culture. My opinion is that every society should not only advocate for the ability of its citizens to read and write in whatever language, but each society should also advocate for a mass cultural education of its people. Bringing my opinion to my own society in Nigeria,where the modern day young Nigerian cannot speak his/her mother tongue properly, or interpret proverbs and adages. I believe that as much as there is a campaign to ensure every child receives the basic education, and learns how to read and write, there should also be a deliberate effort geared towards the cultural education of young Nigerians. I speak of myself and for a couple of people I have interacted with, I believe that education should be much more than western education, or religious education but an incorporation of cultural education. Our indigenous culture has woven into its fabrics values for human lives, respect for each other, reward for hard work, and punishment for laziness and crime. Cultural education opens our eyes to who we are as a people, and teaches about what makes us the people we are. It is this thought that has caused me to indite my opinion, and hope that somehow, we would as young people be able to cause a change in our educational system. If we cannot change it, then we can look for alternative ways to educate ourselves culturally. I admonish that we should henceforth educate ourselves culturally, so that we can be a proud people, a proud race, whose posterity would forever live on with an identity. All of this being said, I in no way antagonize western education, and am totally grateful to the western education I have received that causes me to be able to interact with other people around the world. « return.