Many wonder what's more necessary, education or skill acquisition?
Should one choose Education? After the attainment of great educational height what's next?
Yearly thousands of students troop into JAMB offices and get registered to sit for the examination and get into tertiary institutions to further their education and it baffles me where these people are going to be after they achieve this goal.
Some organisations are relieving their staff of their duties as a result of inability to pay salaries due to decrease in revenue. Can we blame them?
If those who were in service are being sent away and those who had graduated years ago are still wandering in the labour market then what's the fate of those who are yet to come?
Everything seem to be turning upside down. You can see a person who studied accountancy in school as a traffic trader today and another who studied Law as a fashion designer, the list just goes on and on. What could be the problem? Did they not graduate with a good result? I bet a lot of them did.
Truth is in life, no one actually really climbs up the ladder of success alone. In time past people including myself did believe that first we learn to walk, make little speeches then go to school and then once you graduate with a good result, you'll have a good job with an attractive salary. This isn't the routine anymore. Behind the good result lies connection. You need to know someone who knows someone that knows someone in order to get there. If you don't have the resources to pull the right strings to help you get to where you should be, you'd likely not get there. This is why people are important, you need to know good and influential people, maintain relationships with them for they'll come in handy. This is why I once mentioned this in an article titled Man Is Riches
With all these lapses one is bound to have a rethink about furthering education or acquiring a skill.
On the other hand are people who have chosen to acquire a skill. Due to the unavailability of job vacancies in the country. Some it's a matter of financial constraints; not everyone is so privileged to meet the financial demands of acquiring education so they just learn a skill.
Some have put to effective use the skill which they acquired and have made great money from it.
Others have a skill aside from education inorder to make money on the side. Some say it will come in handy as majority of graduates no longer end up working in the sphere of their discipline due to the issue of unemployment.
Others feel education is a complete waste of time so they just learn a skill. Some of the young minds are of the opinion that education is a scam. Their reason being that education has no essence if the people are going to end up unemployed.
With all these factors, some parents have a hard time deciding whether to let a child further his/her education or just learn a skill after high school.
If you were a parent what would you decide?
In my opinion, I'll maintain the popular saying that education is the best legacy. There are opportunities that one would never stand a chance in life to grab if you're uneducated. One's level of education is sometimes considered a medium to proof one's knowledge. Education boosts one's confidence when it comes to expression of opinions but I'll add that education is not enough.
To education add skill(s). With this decision either way life turns out it's a win-win for anyone. If after education you're among the lucky ones who are opportuned to get a good job then put your education to use. Similarly, if you are among those who can't find a job then create one for yourself through your skill. Either way, you'll win.
According to a similar question on Quora, Radhakrishnan Ranjan, Ph.D Electrical Engineering & High Voltage Engineering, The University of Liverpool comments:
"in my opinion, both. If you hold a Ph.D. and cannot solve a problem posed to you, then the knowledge is not worth it. If you have skills, unless you have a University Degree, it may not be recognized. So it is the balance which helps you shine."
I totally agree with this. If you have a different opinion or advice or input please feel free to drop a comment. I'm looking forward to reading them.
So, so true, a lot of degree holders are dry cleaners, gatemen some settle to teach in nursery schools just for the money not even for the passion and end up getting some bucks as an ssce holder or few bucks ahead of them.
So what was the use of the years , resources, time money spent in the tertiary institution when others are making cool money on the digital world, through skill acquisition, businesses and so on.
Most times the educated ones end up working for the uneducated and their worth is determined by the uneducated one. It's so saddening.
But still on still it's preferable to get quality education, spice it up with a digital skill, a hand or creative skill too and a business too my dear if you want to survive anymore in this world.
Good point. Thank you for your contribution.
Education will always be the pick any day.
Education is the future no matter what and insdie education one can get skill acquisition
I'm in total support of your concluding quote.
I think the problem over the years is that the real idea and aim of education has been misplaced.
Most people believe that being educated is solely for securing white collar jobs which are not readily available again
The trend is changing gradually and people are balancing skills with education these days. I hope it gets better.
Great input dear. People are really misplacing the purpose of education. It isn't just for the aim of securing a job. I hope it gets better too. Thank you for stopping by.