Grades are good in education, but when they are being prioritized just for the praises or the benefits that come with them, then there is a problem.
Today, most people are just going to school; the aim is not necessarily to acquire knowledge but to gain a certificate.
Most students casually say it in their conversations. “I am not here to study, but to get the quali (qualification)” Although this is not common in primary and secondary schools.
Well, sometimes, I don't really blame people for this because of how corrupt our world has become. In Nigeria, someone will study Biology Education and end up as a banker.
Situations like this show that the knowledge is of no relevance; all you need is the certificate. But sadly, not all certificates are recognized; organizations and our society only value certificates with good grades.
Once they see a nice grade on it, it is assumed that the person is knowledgeable in the field and it's all they need.
Unfortunately, during strict interviews, most of them can't defend those grades.
I have been wondering who to place the blame on: the society or the people? Why would you study something for four to five years and not be able to at least defend the grade on the certificate?
Can we attribute it to societal lack of regard for education, and also the high rate of corruption? Well, I can't tell.
But whatever the case might be, studying just to get good grades doesn't sound nice, grades are supposed to be the by-product of our passion and seriousness in learning and not just an advantage that serves as a covering from carrying over or to secure a job.
It's not supposed to be something we bypass to get. I think this is why we have many unqualified people in various fields today.
Someone will have no regard for knowledge, attend lectures less, but as soon as they hear the examination is near, they will take all kinds of things and make any kind of sacrifices to study.
And it's funny how hard work will always pay, even though they don't understand how it really works. When they stay up late and study, they may pass with nice grades, of course, but the bad news is, the knowledge will never abide.
Some go as far as indulging in all kinds of malpractice and bribery just to make the grade; well, they may pass, but the knowledge won't be there.
It is not bad to get good grades; if you are truly coping with what you are learning, you will surely make good grades without necessarily doing anything funny.
It's ridiculous how some people take drugs, starve themselves, and do all kinds of crazy things just to meet up.
I once tried Nescafé in order to stay awake to study. I actually stayed awake, but all I studied disappeared into thin air when I was confronted with the examination questions. Honestly, these things are uncalled for.
One of the craziest times in the lives of students is the examination period. You will pity students when you see the kind of things they do in order not to fail.
I believe in hard work and sacrifice, but anything that can pose a threat to our health is not worth it.
There are other ways to succeed in school, and one of them is to start studying early. Don't wait till the examination is next week or next month before you start studying, you will be under pressure.
Grades are good remarks on a paper, they can give you praise and even secure you a nice job but your health is your life; if you don't value and prioritize it, you may have all the benefits of the nice grade but not enjoy them.
Should School Be Allowed To Be So Competitive, Making All Focus On Grade Instead Of Learning?
My answer to this is no. Learning is not supposed to be about grades but about being transformed by the knowledge acquired.
This grade thing has really affected education. Just because a student didn't make good grades doesn't always mean that the student is not learning.
Not all students can express themselves with pen and paper. And sometimes, pressure and tension can also affect academic performance.
How I wish that instead of focusing on grades, the focus would be placed on how much learning has taken place in the lives of the students, through practicals and other methods of examinations.
Schools and society are to be held responsible for how students indulge in unethical things just to make good grades.
What most people don't understand is that grades can be made through any means, people can steal, and use deceitful ways to make good grades, but knowledge can never be acquired except it is learned.
Sadly, the only way knowledge is measured in schools is through grades.
N.B: All Images Were Generated By Gemini AI