By ADENIRAN MUTOLYB ADEKOLA
I have always had the desire to deliver the pregnancy of thoughts and protuberances of cultural decay that is fast translating our once cherished lifestyle to an inordinate extinction. This issue is not only of local concern, but also has national significance and universal implication. The subject matter of literacy, education and knowledge has been bartered in the apostate direction by many stakeholders and I feel the urge to rekindle this lost vision, for if not, we might become slaves of our own culture in moments to come.
There is a sharp distinction and overwhelming dissection amongst the trio (Education, Knowledge and Literacy). However, our sheer ignorance or probably underestimation has clouded our sense of reasoning and sound judgement that we have given to Cesar what belongs to Edet. Using Nigeria and the Yoruba lineage as case studies, I will attempt to make a deep reflection and voice out my views which is my own personal conviction and opinion devoid of any emotional or psychological contraband.
Literacy to me is the ability to read, speak and write in one's mother tongue. Mother tongue is the local language of the community or nation of one's parents ( be it paternal or Maternal). Sociological studies have proven that the child through the process of socialization learns first the language spoken by his immediate family and the people around. Literacy as a learning process can be acquired informally through the family and formally through an institution of learning other than the immediate family. Owing to the relics of colonialism and the highly controversial neo colonialism, some third world countries have been blindfolded and have traded their mother tongue on a platter of rubbish. It is culturally advisable that a person should be able to read, speak and write in his mother tongue unless when hampered by a physical disability, but disability is not even inability. Let me borrow the words of the legendary scholar, Prof. Mrs Sophie Oluwole to drive home my point " If a Yoruba man is a Professor in any Field but cannot read, speak and write in Yoruba language, he is educated and knowledgeable but is an illiterate. Hence, having the knowledge and being educated is not same with being literate. This issue is common especially among the Yoruba race where a Yoruba child who was born and bred in Lagos cannot even speak, read and write the language without committing unpardonable attack on the honour of language. If international students' from other countries can come down to our fatherland to study our mother's language, why should we flood the integrity of our language into the bin of unrecoverable pit?.
I found my way into three Hausa WhatsApp groups and I was elated with my findings. Despite our perception of the Hausas' as poorly educated, I made bold to say they are one of the most if not the highly educated and literate people in Nigeria. The major language of communication on the groups is Hausa and English is only spoken once in a while. These groups consist of university students, working class professionals and vibrant youths. I am always elated at their high level of literacy and I only wish that we the Yorubas' can follow suit.
Now on knowledge, to me, it is the acquisition of a skill which could be cognitive, affective or psychomotor. It can be the skill of the hand such as tailoring, carpentry, bead works, arts and crafts etc. It could also be in the form of structural learning such as the ones learnt in colleges and universities, in religious organizations, offices, classes et al. Once you have a skill practicable or you know something others can learn, then, you posses knowledge. To cap this up, a Teacher has a knowledge of imparting knowledge, a Doctor has medical knowledge, an Engineer has the knowledge of Technology, a Mechanic has the knowledge of car mechanics, a carpenter has the knowledge of furniture works, and religious scholars have knowledge of spiritual and religious related matters. The point I want to make here is that you only need to understand the language of instruction to acquire knowledge, but no mandatory language is required. Hence, if a road side Mechanic who is a Yoruba from Oyo state and has no academic qualification can speak and write Yoruba fluently, but does not understand any word in English and can assemble, dismantle and fix any fault in cars and related automobiles, such a person is literate and knowledgeable.
Education is the most fundamental of all. It has an encompassing elements that integrates and inculcates literacy and knowledge. Education is different from being able to write and read in English or being able to perform plastic surgery or build aircrafts. Its far from it, education is a manifestation of knowledge and attitude reflected in character and life style. Education is synonymous to decency. Once a person can live a decent life, he is educated. Little wonder the motto of the University of Ibadan is for knowledge and sound judgement. Education is a reflection of virtues, morals an decency. An elementary school dropout can be more educated than a University Professor. Am sorry if this sounds harsh but it is the bitter truth as far as I am concerned. Permit me to paint the scenario of a man with P.hD qualification and a mastery of petroleum mechanics, he reads, writes and speak in his mother tongue excellently, but talks rudely to people, does not care for the poor, highly corrupt and high handed, and commits crimes of varying degree, such a man is literate and knowledgeable but not educated. Education goes beyond what you know or who you are but rather what you do.
In this phase of life, globalization is a bone of contention. The emerging global phenomenon has stirred reactions and arguments as to the universally acceptable medium of measuring global literacy. I believe there is no contention in measuring education and knowledge as it is clear like crystal. In order to make a balanced equation and in my own personal opinion, literacy is of three folds, local, national and global. To be a local literate, one must be able to speak, read and write the language of one's motherland, to be a national literate, one must be able to speak, read and write the official language of one's country, and to be a global literate, one must be able to speak any of the 6 adopted languages of the United Nations. These languages are English, French, Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, Russian and Spanish. Above all other thing else as ridiculous as it might sound, the local literacy qualifies one as more literate than the national and global literacy medium. However, to go farther and further, one must not be confined to local literacy but strive to be a national and global literate.
It is not over until it is over, one can be literate, educated and knowledgeable. Ignorance is the absence of an element of any or all of these elements in the life of a human being as this differentiates us from the animal kingdom. The major difference between humans and animals are literacy, education and knowledge.
The sun above the skies can still dry up the wet clothes. The individual person, the family, the institutions of learning, the government and society all have roles to play to bring back the unsung hero. The language of mother tongue should be made compulsory in schools up to the secondary school level. Privileges should be made available in order to be knowledgeable by making schooling affordable and accessible, and individuals should also strive to make this possible. As for education, what one need is to have a developed mindset and readiness. Family background, residence, peer pressure and socio cultural/economic status all impact on the level of ones education but the individual factor is the most important factor as far as being educated is concerned.
Peace, Tranquillity and Development come through literacy, knowledge and education. The developed countries of the world are on a high level due to their high level of literacy, knowledge and education while the low profile countries are on a low ebb owing to their low level of literacy, knowledge and education. The problems we have seen and the solution is before us, but the choice to make the difference is ours.
Thanks for reading.
ADENIRAN MUTOLYB ADEKOLA WRITES FROM THE STREET OF AJEGUNLE, LAGOS, NIGERIA.
