My early years’ education was a battle for the fittest. Academic excellence was rated at its highest. Children were celebrated for their achievements, but, not in a very healthy way. There were competitions of who knew what. Emphasis was not placed on creativity, it was all about who remember the most, a kind of declarative memory was what my teachers were after.

In this era of madness, some children were unfortunate to get labeled as “losers” while some were classified as “winners”. The “losers” formed a caucus for their leagues. They walked together. Played together and failed together. There was never a mix between those fortunate to be tagged as “Winners”.

The problem was the hierarchy, it restrained their friendships and got in the way of what would have been healthy friendships. Some of these children were made to believe that they were superior. They heard the teachers’ loud comparison. They heard the mocking and they heard the praises.

The “Winners” were entrusted with leadership roles. They became mini leaders that the “Losers” were subject to obey. They were authorities in the miniature world of deceit and make belief, they got used to overtly praises.

These children were not prepared for the real world outside. The “Winners” got wrong perspectives about the world outside. The real world outside their comfort zone was a bit unbearable.The ego and false confidence could not stand the test in the real world.

On the other hand, the children that were tagged “dumb” gave up hope on themselves. They let go of any hope of achieving anything in life. They failed miserably and 80 percent just accepted what life gave without questions. They constantly question their worth. They worry about acceptance in the real world. They struggle with what they knew to be the truth. They doubted their ability.  They felt everyone was better than them. They are easily misled. They moved on in life bearing their title despite their achievements.

Somehow, we all managed to scale through life. We managed to survive. We managed to exist. Some managed to discover themselves. Others are still struggling to discover themselves despite the piles of academic certificates.

The real problem was not the schools I attended. No. It was the ignorance on the part of those in helms of affairs. The failure to understand that every child was different and that every child learned differently contributed more to the confusion we encountered later in life.

I have since realised that intelligence is how you perceive it. A child might struggle to get an A in Math at school, but, it does not necessarily mean that child is worthless.  According to Neuroscientists, the human brain has the capacity to learn differently and there is no limit to what we can learn. Comparing a child to another is a problem.

Every child should be treated as an individual irrespective of ability or disability. Every child should be seen as winners irrespective of denominations. Every child is unique irrespective of where they are on the learning chart. Children should be praised and loved equally. No child should be made to feel he has no chance in life. Every child has something to offer the world no matter how little. Every child has something in him that makes him different.