In 1987 a comprehensive educational reform took place leading to the birth of a solid skills-based junior secondary school system. The goal was to produce globally competitive graduates with exposure to skills development.
This was to create an entrepreneurial educational system in which the number of years spent in school was reduced by about 5 years before entering university. This also means upon graduation, graduates may contribute to productivity within a longer time frame before retirement as opposed to the former “O” and “A” levels.
Even though the original junior secondary system suffered adulteration with equipment, tools, and machinery stolen and destroyed, the system continues to produce quality lawyers, medical doctors, engineers, teachers, lecturers, pharmacists just to mention a few.
There is nothing wrong with revising the educational system but for what purpose especially when the revision is mainly about the number of years. Some reforms have been going on since 2017 but with limited support and appreciation. For example, the new curriculum for basic schools has been running for two years without textbooks. This is very bad.
The gain for the country with a system that produces graduates 5 years earlier will be eroded if it is just for mergers and not the restoration of the original structure with the relevant equipment and machinery for skills development. One can say that 6 years of secondary education may help limit the number of graduates entering the job market each year with skills but it is not a viable alternative to job creation.
The change in educational policy and system is such an important national project that should be undertaken with the appropriate consultations. Our global competitiveness, quality human resource development, and productivity depend on the educational system.