In October, I had the privilege of engaging with students from private schools as part of a breast cancer awareness program. Just a few weeks later, in November, I interviewed students from public schools who had taken a fascinating physical trip to the Discovery Museum. Both experiences were equally enriching in content, yet the students’ abilities to recount these experiences couldn’t have been more different.

The private school students confidently expressed their thoughts, fluently recounting their breast cancer awareness experiences in English. They shared their insights with remarkable clarity and without fear of judgment.

In stark contrast, the public school students, despite having an equally captivating experience at the museum struggled to articulate their stories. Their enthusiasm was evident, and they were brimming with insights, but they simply couldn’t put their thoughts into words in a way that did justice to their experiences.

Reflecting on the Divide

This disparity raises critical questions about the state of education in Nigeria:
• Why does this gap exist?
• Why are students from public schools seemingly less equipped to express themselves, even when they’ve had remarkable experiences?

The issue doesn’t seem to be the lack of experiences or even intelligence, it’s something deeper.

Where Do We Look for Answers?

Could it be a lack of proper training for teachers in public schools? Are the teachers qualified but demotivated due to poor working conditions? Or is the issue more systemic, a result of years of neglect, insufficient resources, and a focus on numbers rather than quality?

For example, public schools may not have access to structured programs that prioritize not just content but also how it is delivered. Beyond basic education, students in private schools are often exposed to extracurricular activities that boost confidence and improve articulation.

Why This Matters:

The Discovery Museum trip should have been a straightforward story for the public school students to tell, a visual, hands-on experience that could easily translate into vivid storytelling. Instead, their struggles highlight a larger issue: an education system that hasn’t equipped them with the tools to confidently express themselves.

Meanwhile, private school students benefited from an environment that encourages verbal and cognitive skill development, bridging the gap between knowledge and expression.

A Call for Equality in Education

The vast disparity in students’ ability to communicate their thoughts reflects the uneven playing field in Nigerian education. It’s not just about having access to schooling, it’s about the quality of education that students receive.

If we are to create a society where every child can thrive, we must bridge this gap. The solution lies in:
1. Investing in Teacher Training – Equipping public school teachers with the skills and tools to nurture their students’ potential.
2. Encouraging Expressive Learning – Introducing extracurricular activities that enhance verbal skills and confidence.
3. Providing Resources – Ensuring public schools have access to the materials and support they need to engage students effectively.

Final Thoughts

The videos from these programs, available on our YouTube channel showcase the enthusiasm of both groups of students. But they also reveal the inequality in how these students are prepared to face the world.

The question remains: are we content with this disparity, or are we ready to take actionable steps toward an education system that serves every child equally?

The Expression Gap: Lessons from Two Different Worlds

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