THE FREEDOM TO FAIL IN EDUCATION

Failure in education is seen as the fact of not reaching the required standard in an examination, test, course and so on. The current system of education in Nigeria is leading to many students who are frightened to fail. There is so much emphasis on success and testing in today’s school culture, whereas a major lesson is being missed in our classroom. The lesson is that experiencing failure is an inevitable step on someone way to success.

Recently, countries like China and Finland changed their education system. China introduced a school system that reflects a more creative, risk taking culture, promoting the idea of collaboration and teamwork while Finland scrapped traditional “teaching by subjects” in favour of “teaching by topics” which is a kind of education to prepare people for working life.

Some scholars also gave their own perspective on this topic. Read their contributions below.
Adekunle Abiola Babatunde said, “It is no news saying we live in a society where the clamour for freedom is loud. Freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of association and all forms of freedom you can think of. The need to add ‘freedom of failure’ especially in education is one thing we often overlook. What is education actually? Education often mistaken to be only the formal teachings within the four walls of a school. ‘Education is what you learn in and outside the school walls. Therefore, ones inability to learn from life experience should equate their freedom to fail.”

In his own perspective, Emmanuel Harzy Kyomsaid, “Due to the rate at which freedom is demanded in all aspects of life and the fact that humans tend not mind the outcome of a preceeding attempt freedom to fail in education is the next form of freedom clamour. Instances of rotteness and neglect of the educational sector has led many especially students to neglect their studies as they have alternative means of doing well in life without those certificates -getting jobs based on acquintances/connections and not based on merit.”

An illustration was given on this topic by Yusuf Opeyemi Quduslap. He said, “Failure is inevitable in every aspect of life. Success in life is a result of failure. Christiano Ronaldo was not a successful footballer on the day he scored five goals in a match for Real Madrid, he became successful after trial and error (failure) on the training ground. Oladele Mayowa PenKraft did not become a good writer on the day he wrote about the topic `University Of Life’, He had failed several times before that. Aliko Dangote did not become successful the day he became the richest man in Africa, he became successful after he had work with several boss and got sacked (failure). Another example is the nobel prize winner, Prof Wole Soyinka. A Student also isn’t a success on the day he got his first class degree, he became successful after lots of failure in the study-room.”

Ogunbona Ademola Horlalekan said, “Choice isn’t always a matter of do or die, whereas success in education won’t be forced onto you. Every student wants success, which won’t come easily. It’s all a matter of choice though. You aren’t ready to give all it wants? Then you are free to fail, who cares?”

What is your own view on FREEDOM TO FAIL IN EDUCATION?

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