You will hardly find people who will tell you about the cons of studying abroad. It is now a common thing for students from developing countries such as Nigeria to aspire to study abroad. There are many reasons attributed to this such as the poor standard of education in their country or the numerous opportunities promised them abroad. The educational environment abroad is also conducive and aids learning, one can be sure to get value for their money. While many even debates that it is more beneficial to study abroad than in Nigeria or some other developing countries, we would like to bring to your notice that studying abroad has its own disadvantages. All of these will be discussed in this article.
Advantages of Studying in Nigeria vs. Abroad
Read on below:
Adaptation
It is in fact non-arguable that Nigerian Students can adapt to any environment easily. In fact, the clause, ‘Able to adapts easily to changes’ or ‘able to work well under pressure’ in one’s resume is one Nigerian employer check out and want to test. Nigerian employers get convinced or take you seriously on your adaptation stance when they see the location of your studies. The work experiences in the Nigerian labour market can be an understatement when measured or juxtaposed with real experiences as a student in Nigeria.
Nigerian Schools prepare you for a tough life. You become like refined gold that has passed through the fire. This is one of the major advantages of schooling in Nigeria. Schooling in Nigeria prepares you for real-life situations, not only in the labour market here in Nigeria but anywhere else in the world. The Nigerian educational processes have been modeled to fit into third-world situations. This is true for those who studied in private institutions also. These schools have restrictions and imposed donts. This is a general situation in all Nigerian universities and it helps the student to be more disciplined and able to adapt to real-life situations.
Cost and expenses
The course fees for studying abroad is generally expensive. This is not to talk of the overall cost of living in a different country which will just be expensive as well. This is why it is important that you put much thought into the course you want to take up and a particular country where you will be studying. If you’re not extra careful when choosing the course you will be studying and the country where you will study, you will find this whole endeavour unbearably costly. There have been many cases of Nigerian students who were at first able to pay the deposit fees in the good universities or colleges abroad, who went for classes, wrote examinations and graduated but could not pay the balance left of their expensive fees. These ones are then unable to collect their certificates. They have to work hard to pay off their debts to the good schools abroad and this sometimes takes years. It also can be very difficult because one still has other daily bills and expenses to attend to. Payment of school fees can be easier when one is on scholarship or if one is born into a wealthy home. The low minimum wage in Nigeria causes a serious issue for parents and others who are interested in studying abroad. Most people cannot afford the education abroad. Nigerians have to try to save up at least $50, 000 in order to afford education outside the country.
The complexities with post-graduation plans
After completing your studies abroad, you might find yourself stuck or undecided about your future plans. You start to worry about if you should return home to Nigeria in order to seek employment or should you try your luck in the country where you studied. If you decide to stay in the country where you completed your course, bear in mind that you will then have to sort out issues of residency and work criteria or requirements because you are no longer a full-time student.
Unfamiliarity with the environment
When one studies abroad, one will be far away from one’s home and familiar surroundings. This is one thing many underrates. You will be confronted with new ways of life, new customs, with new people, and even with language and cultural barriers. All of these can be very difficult and stressful to deal with. If you are not mentally prepared or tough, you might just cave into all these hardships. Some have abandoned the course they signed up for abroad to return home.
Lagging behind in one’s studies
Moving abroad to study means establishing oneself in a new country. It sometimes means one would have to learn a new language, meet new friends, and create new social circles; one could also need to get a job so as to adapt well to the new environment. All of these could be overwhelming for some to take in all at once and could breed the potential for one to fall behind in one’s studies.
Fortified Background Knowledge
When you study in Nigeria, you are taught the basics, the theoretical know-how. This way, you can discuss the basics of this course elaborately and confidently. What you have learnt reflects in your writing, speech, and conducts. This is a viable tool that will help you stand out in any organization. You become an expert in your chosen field.
Radical Minded
When you study in Nigeria, you begin to be more radical minded as you look out for ways of changing a long-existing harsh status quo. You start to think about improving life and become more innovative. You can become an inventor in Nigerian Schools.
Alert
When you study in Nigeria, you become more cautious of your environment. You become more watchful, gather information, and are alert to the specific needs of your environment.
Language and Cultural issues
Remember that when you decide to study abroad, you will have to grapple with issues of a new culture and society. This is not always easy to adapt to.