THE IMPORTANCE OF TERTIARY EDUCATION

 A lot of people lack knowledge and understanding about the importance of having tertiary education. The myopia of looking at life and success only from the angle or perspective of material possession further aggravates the situation, leading to gradual loosing of the essence of the existence of institution of higher learning. Considering our predominant or prevalent social values - which is materialism- that has become a huge jeopardy in understanding what ought to be, informed the writing of this piece. The critical concern is the alarming rate people have forgotten the ideal essence of tertiary education, and myopically pursuing a mirage - I.e. the unweavery and deep seated attitude and orientation that, acquiring university education helps people escape poverty, amass wealth and elevates one's social status, which is part of what education is not. Unfortunately, this is regarded as a key factor responsible for incompetence and mediocrity, leading to over - reliance  and unnecessary promotion of paper qualifications (credentials), over competence, creativity and discovery, as we used to have in the past. In other words, it is no longer a citadel of learning, research, and a veritable ground for building or cultivating sound social or moral values, that will help in building development in the society.

Now, the question that should help solve this serous misnomer is: why do people really enrol for or pursue tertiary education? Or what is the main or ideal essence of having tertiary education? The answer, no doubt, will help straighten the record and erase every misunderstanding and ignorance surrounding the subject of discourse.

1. LEARNING OR ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE 

Tertiary education makes people highly learned and educated. Learned people are those who have been well socialized, and have adequately cultivated the norms, conformity, and standard of the society.These set of people have also imbibed social maturity, social adjustment and social tolerance - making them responsible and law-abiding citizens Maintenance of order, peace and stability become possible when a society is predominantly made up of learned or educated people - this is extensively explained in a related post titled "THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A LITERATE (EDUCATED) SOCIETY".

2. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 

Tertiary education is development oriented, because it is geared towards conducing research with the aim of solving existing social problems; mainly through discoveries and invention - beyond patriotism acquired from civic or citizenship studies - that is why the educated are more development oriented than the uneducated. Their knowledge, experience, exposure, etc. are great advantage to the subject of comparison. And, it clearly supports why they are more culture, responsible, and law-abiding - factors responsible for peaceful co-existence, order and stability in the society. These serve as precursors or ingredients for rapid development in the society.

3. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT 

Tertiary education helps in building generally acceptable values, virtues, and ethics (morals) that guide individual's conduct and lifestyle, in all sphere of human endeavour, in order to help them secure a successful living. Successful liviv in this context, involves strictly abiding by existing social norms, which certainly can contribute to personal success in life. Do not forget, prisoners and most cases, ex convicts do not live successful life in the society. It also builds the mind or intellect, sharpens horizon, reasoning and understanding, as well as enhancing cognitive prowess. Tertiary education helps develop skills and capacity that will enable sustainable means of livelihood, to excel after graduation - that is why graduates, in an ideal situation, should not complain about unemployment, because the cognitive and intellectual development and capacity building acquired, make them highly skilled sub-set of a country's work force, which can enable them solve complex social problems, making them highly sought after, in the labour market.

In summary, decadence has created so much vacuum in our society today, hence the reason for witnessing absolute digression from what it ought to be, including the essence of tertiary education. It becomes needful to advocate the return to the basis in this regard. Therefore, acquiring tertiary education should first and foremost be seen from the perspective of building the society, and not exploiting it.