Vacation Classes Is A Waste Of Time

Source: awdf.org

Vacation classes, to me, is the best thing to ever happen in the history of time wasting in our educational life. Of course, I don't expect you to agree with me since it's my opinion and I'm entitled to it. Before I get to explain, let's get the definition of vacation.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines vacation as a period of time that a person spends away from home,school, or business usually in order to relax or travel or a time when schools, colleges, and universities are closed.

With the definition given, what happened to vacation? We are pushed back into the classroom because our parents don't want us 'wasting' time at home behind the computers and televisions. However, do you know it's the reason the educational system is still behind? Do you know it is the more obvious reason why unemployment is on the rise?

The aim of vacation classes, I stand to be corrected, was to enable some schools complete the syllabus especially for their final year students. It was a good cause as these schools performed better in their final exams. I believe getting the hint of their success, others got interested and decided to join . The aim of this extensive studies has however changed over the years and become a lucrative business for most educational institutions. This has in no way made the system better simply because we place academics above anything. Interestingly, vacation classes concentrates mostly on the General Arts, Science, Business and Visual Arts courses. What happened to those offering Technical courses, are they also not students?

We can attest to the fact vacation classes to the student is more of a place for technological bluff and a fashion parade ground. I don't really know for now but sometime back it was that bad. Eventually, it made no significant impact in the lives of many as they returned to school with no new knowledge but rather gave them a thousand topics to discuss when they reopened. Why then do parents keep wasting money on such ventures  when it can be used to improve other aspects of the child's life?

You may be wondering what other aspects I may be referring to. Let's not go far. What happened to skills and talents? Do you know the money invested in vacation classes can cater for personal tutorials or a skill development class; something outside the normal school curriculum? One may ask, "What can't be learnt after school?" Everything can be learnt after school but somethings may just be too late.

Kids in bead making. Source: betterplace.org

Dear parents, instead of putting your ward in this vacation classes trend, let them take a language course or put them in the library to read or even learn how to play a musical instrument or even take a painting or crafts course. All these widen one's knowledge making one not limited to the classroom knowledge. It also makes the child smart and brilliant. I guess you never knew Prof. Frimpong Boateng plays the piano, in fact most of the big guns around the world play an instrument or two, even if not so, they know how to do something outside their field. I sometimes regret attending vacation classes in my first to third years in the senior high school. I could have improved my keyboard skills and probably be rubbing shoulders with the Varrick Armaahs, Addaquays, Kingsley Acheampongs, Albert Aduseis, Augustine and Augustus Sobeng, Francis Eyesons, Kwame Appiahs and the rest.

I'm not undermining the importance of these classes since in a way I benefited from it but the point being made here is, the rate of unemployment would have reduced if we combined classroom knowledge with a skill. We've over-emphasized classroom knowledge to the extent that one comes out of school and the ability to think and create job for oneself is not available.  Now most graduates are taking to bead making, designing and other crafty jobs to make a living out of them. Why should you wait till you're unemployed before you learn a skill?

Young boys undergoing textiles training. Source: iDONATE

It is so sad even down to the kindergarten level, vacation classes are organised for the children and it's the same things they're taught when school is in full session. I plead with you, dear parents, to allow the kids to rest. If your ward needs help academically and you want vale for money, get them a private teacher who would your ward special attention. Else, occupy them with something outside the school curriculum, it makes them better people in life. Let's go back to our old folks, and ask them how they spent their vacation. And you're surprised they can do basic stuffs you can't do?

The blue collar jobs we run away from is what gives the economy revenue. The white collar jobs we run to only manage the revenue so if we want to compete with the advanced countries, then let's do what would take us there. A special mention to all, especially iDonate, IHAV, Christabel Badzi and other organisations, who engage children in one way or the other teaching them profitable skills such as bead making, slippers, dress making an their likes, you're indeed a blessing to our generation.

  

                   Pictures Credit: iDonate