A final-year student at the University of Ibadan (UI) has expressed deep frustration with the conduct of students at her teaching practice station, leading her to abandon her dream of becoming a teacher. The student, Banwo Oluwapelumi, shared her experience in a viral TikTok video, recounting how the attitude of students in a public school made her efforts ineffective and dampened her passion for the profession.
UI Student Shares Heartbreaking Experience
In the video posted on her TikTok page, @moetunrayo, Oluwapelumi explained that she was initially prepared to impact knowledge and give her all to the pupils. However, the reality on the ground in the public school where she was posted was far from what she expected. She highlighted a stark difference between public and private schools, noting that the lack of discipline rendered her work useless. According to her, the students showed little interest in learning despite her best efforts to prepare for them.
She captioned the video: "I used to love teaching but I don't anymore, thanks to the school I'm currently doing my teaching practice……. The difference between public schools and private schools is something worth looking into. I'm a bit sad because I was so prepared to pour into them, I was prepared to impact and I was ready to give my all but these students rendered my efforts useless and ineffective."
Reactions from Social Media Users
The post sparked a wave of reactions from social media users, with many offering advice and sharing their own experiences. Coach Radical commented: "You're still gonna have a lot to endure o." The_cac_guy suggested: "If you are still there, you can try this. 1. See what interests them 2. And ask them why they have lost interest." Another user, Guess_, remarked: "Public school or Methodist… no let me change ham for you that is my secondary school."
Broader Implications for Education
This incident sheds light on the challenges faced by student teachers in public schools, where indiscipline and lack of resources often hinder effective learning. It also raises questions about the disparity between public and private education systems in Nigeria. Many have called for reforms to address these issues and support aspiring teachers.
