THE CONCEPT OF PHISM IN EDUCATION AND WHY MOST PHD HOLDERS ARE STILL UNEDUCATED.

WRITTEN BY DR. OKAFOR AGHOLOR AUGUSTINE (OMEJOI YUTA)

Education has been defined in various perspectives by various scholars.

As contained in Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary( 8th edition),

Education is a process of teaching, training and learning, especially in schools or colleges to improve knowledge and develop skills.

Whitehead (1929) viewed education as the acquisition of the art of the utilization of knowledge.

According to him, an acquired idea or knowledge that is not utilized is harmful. This means that education is not complete at the acquisition level, but the application process is of paramount importance.

One is educated by having a transformed behavior and using the acquired skills to contribute to the development of the society.

Herbart (1776-1841) maintained that education is a process of developing sound MORAL character and for the good of the society.

Going by the above definition of education, one who speaks big grammar but has no sound moral character is with an incomplete education.

Ukeje (1979) cited by Ughamadu (2006), noted that education can be viewed as:

1. A process

2. A product

3. A discipline.

As a process, education is the means by which people acquire the civilization of the past and are enabled both to take part in the civilization of the present, and to make the civilization of the future.

From the above, education explains the transmission of acquired knowledge, the preservation and advancement of the culture of the people( not making the culture go into oblivion or necessarily replacing the culture in every sense).

As a product, education means a change in behavior. Thus, being educated means having a change from negative to positive.

As a discipline, education, according to Ukeje (1979) and as cited by Ughamadu (2006), is a body of an organized knowledge that deals with:

*What to teach

*Why we should teach

*How we should teach and

* Who to teach.

The analysis of the above reveals that “What” refers to the curriculum, “Why” refers to the educational philosophy, “ How” refers to the teaching methodology and “Who” refers to the learners who would receive the teaching.

The questions that can be generated from the above discourse so far, using Nigerian educational system as a focus point, are:

1. According to the view of Whitehead(1929), are the acclaimed acquired knowledge and skills by Nigerian leaders being utilized? Why is Nigeria retrogressive in every sense even when Doctors and Professors are in the helm of affairs?

2. According to the view of Herbart( 1776- 1841), are Nigerian educated individuals really with sound moral character? Why is even the judiciary so confused in their judgements, especially on electoral issues?

3. Are Nigerian leaders really educated? If they are, are they really learning from the past to guide the present and the future as opined by Ukeje (1979)? Why then is the economy falling instead of improving?

4. Why was Nigerian currency higher than USD in 1970s but far lower today than one can imagine?

5. Regarding to education as a discipline, is Nigerian education really teaching what it should teach with the appropriate methodologies? Why do we have so many graduates that end at paper qualifications without real skills for personal and societal development? Why do we have many SSCE holders who can hardly read?

From my findings, Nigerian education is porous and erroneous, basing qualifications on paper work and undermining true efficiency.

At this point, I like to talk about the concept of PHISM in the achievement of the complete goals of education.

What is PHISM?

PHISM is an acronym that refers to

Physical,

Health,

Intellectual,

Social and

Moral aspects of education.

I advocate that for one to be considered educated, one should be able to obtain at least, 50% of PHISM in education.

For example, how would we justify the quality of education of a Master Degree holder who still throws off banana peels through the window of a moving vehicle, to litter the environment?

What happens to the knowledge of health and hygiene he acquired?

Where is the application of what he has learnt over the years?

How can we say a man is highly educated all because he speaks big grammar and has obtained big certificate without the entrepreneurial ability for self reliance?

As a Pragmatic/ Idealist Philosopher, I conclude that most Nigerians, even most of the leaders with big degrees are still uneducated by their lack of application of acquired knowledge and skills for the good of the society.

Nigeria should wake up because her educational system is sleeping.