Growing up, I was made to understand that the only route to success was by education else there is no future for you and so the struggle was real. What I meant of the struggle was that in every discussion on the lips of teenagers and youths was to ensure they finish high school and scale through tertiary institutions successfully so as to get a well paid job in the banking sector and most especially an oil firm which is the deal breaker.
During the 80s/90s, female children were not permitted to go to school that only few families who truly know the worth of their females allowed them to schooled. It was a believe to them that they would get married someday and end up taking care of their families so education was a waste for the female child. But thank God for this era where education is no longer a gender based thing and the female child is allowed to study to any degree she desires. As for the ratio, from primary to secondary it is almost a balanced one for the male and female but then for tertiary institutions, we tend to find more amount of male compared to females due to some factors which early marriage is one of them. Still at that I am proud that education is not biased like the early days.
Although I was young at that time but I knew how close relatives would cry a river when denied admission even after meeting the requirements. It wasn't funny because like I earlier said education was the future. When worst gets to worst and even getting a good highschool and jamb results, one needs connection and if you don't have them you pay for your admission with your money to someone that has influence in the school. the sad part was that even after paying to be granted admission your desired field of study might be changed and sometimes admission denied. I recalled when my elder brother was pursuing further to the university, that guy almost ran mad.....and falling into depression was just a thin line left for him that even when the last admission list was out just a month to exams he still went to school.
This was the kind of passion that people possess when it comes to education then but now it's a new match entirely. The new slogan in my country is that school is a scam. People now see education as a waste of time when they can actually by cut to get the money they need. Teenagers and youth are under pressure to buy the latest Benz, GLE and the rest. They want to live luxurious lives, go on vacations and put on the latest wear. You hardly hear them speak about furthering except for the good ones who want to make money the right way.
Lastly I will say it is only a pity to those that keep saying education is a scam or expensive and if it is then try ignorance. I for one know that the government has failed in the educational sector but still in whatever we want to do it is still a necessity that one is learned be it the skills of his or her hand.