An Impoverished Nation

Below is an exerpt from the UK's Daily Telegraph.

"Foreign families are paying up to £10,000-a-year to send their children to popular state schools in the UK, despite a major squeeze on places for many British pupils.

The Telegraph has learnt that companies are marketing the state education system to parents from overseas as the “least expensive way” to study in this country.

Countries such as China, Hong Kong, Russia, Germany, Spain, and Nigeria send the largest numbers of pupils to independent schools in Britain."

Note - the above refers to State Schools, not even Private Schools.

This is not an attack of any kind on parents that send their children to foreign schools. I myself went to a foreign school, so to do so would be hopelessly hypocritical. 

The aim of this article is for us to reflect on, and perhaps do something about the terribly poor state of our education system; and to shed a little light on the damage that our Import mentality is inflicting on the nation's economy. 

I would go so far as to say that Nigeria and Russia probably send the highest number of children to foreign private schools. 

Russia is of little concern to me this morning so let's focus on our dear nation. 

Nigerian parents now send their children to schools in all manner of countries; ranging from Canada to Hungary to the US to South Africa. 

It is estimated that at least 250,000 Nigerians send their children to foreign schools. 

The average annual school fees in the UK is about US$20,000 (yes, I'm well aware of the fact that the Pound Sterling is the UK's currency, but for the sake of those that send their children to school in countries such as Canada, US, and South Africa, let's talk dollars). 

And for the sake of these same group of people let's reduce the overall amount to US$15,000 per annum for each household. 

US$15,000 multiplied by 250,000 gives you US$3.7bn

In other words Nigerian parents spend an average of US$3.7bn on foreign schools' tuition fees. 

That's a Billion people. Not a million.

Just think about that figure for a moment. 

A few more seconds; let it simmer gently.  

Aside from the fact we Import anything and everything in this country, we're more or less adding a further US$3.7bn to our Annual Importation bill via education.

Let's dig a little further.

Three out of the ten most expensive private schools in Nigeria are  foreign owned - British International High School, Hilcrest School, and American International School. 

To make matters worse not only do the above listed schools Import foreign teachers, but so too do most of the Nigerian owned private schools. 

The word 'Neo-Colonialism' comes to mind. And this time the fault lies squarely on our door step.

Yes, You and I. 

Not for sending our children abroad but for allowing our education system to disintegrate to the point at which decent education is now a luxury that only the comfortable and the rich have access to. 

So who are these people that send their children abroad?

They come in three categories.

1. The Super rich

2. The Rich

3. The Middle Class

Over 80% of the Super Rich's money is in foreign accounts. 

About 60% of the the discretionary funds of the Rich is spent on the various costs of educating their children in foreign schools. 

And as for middle class parents that choose to send their children to foreign schools, I'd say about 80% of their income goes to funding their kids' education. 

So the question is - 'Who's money is left in Nigeria???'

And what currency are most of these parents spending?

The might Green-back!!

Is it any wonder that our exchange rate and economy are in free-fall?!

The super rich pillage our nation's economy, then proceed to funnel those same funds into foreign accounts.

As a direct result of little or no faith in our poorer than poor education system, having built their wealth through initiative, industry, and courage, the rich are left with no other choice but to send their children to foreign schools. 

And although they can bearly afford it, out of love and sacrifice a significant enough portion of the middle class also send their children abroad for want of a better education. 

It seems to me that most of the nation's money is in one way or another enriching other nations. 

Imagine for a moment a Nigeria with a truly exceptional Education system; one wherein the standard of State Education is comparable to the best in the world; one in which we also have an excellent Grammar School System.

The result?

1. A well educated nation - North and South

2. Reduction of school fees

3. Our very own Export - 'Education' - whereby parents of other African nations' send their children to school in Nigeria; thereby earning the nation some much needed extra revenue.

4. A Strengthening of the Naira 

We need to pump money into our seriously comatose Education System. 

We also need to make teaching sexy again. 

Now imagine the same for Health Care. 

Referring to the extent of which we Import everything and Export nothing (it's high-time we let go of our dependency on Oil Revenue so forget about Crude Oil), I heard someone state the other day that "we're more or less Impoverishing ourselves in this country."

He's spot on. 

For a truly stable and prosperous economy we need to start Producing our own goods and Exporting them - be-it Education, Food, or Health Products. 

Building An Exemplary Education System is of Vital Importance for the future well-being of this nation.