An educationist, Dr Bello Galadanchi, shares with TEMITOPE ADETUNJI on why he prefers to teach in China and not in Nigeria, among other issues
You made a report via social media that you prefer teaching in China and not Nigeria. Why this so?
Yes, it is very true. I posted a video of me teaching my Chinese students in Beijing how to make a paper boat. After posting the video, I received a message from some Nigerians who said that as a Nigerian, I should have valued my country more as a teacher instead of sharing my knowledge in a foreign land. They also said that teaching these people might lead to them coming back and exploit us. Some were suggesting why I should come back home and that I was useless to Nigeria because I was teaching children of other countries.
So, do you prefer teaching Chinese children compared to Nigeria?
I prefer teaching Chinese children to Nigerian children because they pay me more here (China). I get free food, accommodation and health care services. Teachers don’t get all these in Nigeria. In my country, a teacher is assumed to be nobody or a low life person. They pay me more here, in addition to free food and accommodation.
In an online report, you claimed to be a satirist and a journalist, apart from being a teacher. How do you manage to do all of these?
I do satire and I don’t care whether people laugh or not. I am to make complicated things easy; I am also a journalist and a teacher. As a Nigerian, one can’t just focus on a particular career; therefore, I am a teacher, journalist and social media influencer. I am into many things because no one knows what the future holds. So, I do all this for profit-making.
What are the challenges you have been facing in your teaching career?
I am a Grade 1 teacher here in Beijing. I programme and show them ways to be righteous. I don’t really have any challenge but the issue is that many people who come here to work tend to have communication problem because they don’t understand mandarin. However, I learnt that before I began working. So, I don’t have that challenge. The only challenge I faced was during COVID-19 when other teachers and I had to teach the children online. At that time when they were in the comfort of their homes, you could not get their full attention. This is different from when they come to the class to learn.
Why do you think teachers are well paid in foreign countries like China?
I don’t know much about other countries but here in China, most especially Beijing, when you look at the history of Nigeria, people who fought for our inheritance and our heroes whom we learnt from, teachers are noble people, role models and people who prepare foundations. Here, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, if you are a high standard teacher, you will be seen as a king, you will be praised on a daily basis and your salary will be better. You will earn respect. But if you are not competent and just want the money, you will not be treated with respect.
How long have you been teaching?
I started teaching in 2016 when I was doing my Master’s in Business Administration in China. At that time, I was teaching English and Mandering; I was also preparing the pupils for their international examinations. When I realised that teaching had much value, it remained my hobby. So, I decided to do my PhD in Teaching Education. I graduated in 2020.
What are the subjects you teach?
Aside from English Language, I teach Science, Critical Thinking, Literature, and Physical Education (soccer).
Would you say it is the pay that inspired you to become a teacher?
Though the pay is important, they pay well here compared to Nigeria. Apart from the pay, I remembered that my teacher, who taught me Chinese culture during my Masters’ said teaching was so much appreciated in Chinese culture and I realised that if I really wanted to teach, then that was the only place I should work because I am respected. My teacher has passed on now. When I realised that teachers are so much respected in this culture, I told myself that I definitely needed to become one there. I have PhD in Comparative English.
What is the name of the school where you teach?
I teach at the 21st-century International School in Beijing.
How much do you think teachers are paid monthly in China when converted to Nigerian currency?
Primary school teachers are better paid than their counterparts in the university here. Here, university teachers are paid something equivalent to N1m when converted to Nigerian currency and for the primary school teachers, it can be twice or thrice the amount they pay university teachers, although this is based on the location.
So, how do you handle culture and language challenges?
Not learning the Chinese language will make your stay difficult because only few people speak English. So, you need to understand Chinese language.
Is it easier for children over there to learn English ?
There are two factors; the natural factors where some people have the natural skill to learn a language faster, and for some, it is not. Also, the quality of the teachers will determine how the children learn; a teacher who is not passionate about teaching can’t really train one in language. Culturally, we follow the curriculum of the school since it is an international school. So, they tend to be shown things in different countries by having an open mind.
Can you provide examples of how you have dealt with classroom management challenges in the past?
I am now a leader here; so, I train teachers in classroom management. There are three categories of teachers here; the Chinese teacher, the Mathematics teacher and a foreign teacher. The three teachers have to have good relationships with each other, cooperate and have the same rules for the students. Many students have some issues with their families. So, one has to connect with their parents to know the challenges they are facing. The Chinese culture really promotes respect for teachers and parents, which is instilled in the students.
You mentioned three categories of teachers in China. Which one are you?
I’m a foreign teacher or an international teacher.
Can you compare life in Beijing with the one in Nigeria?
Beijing is one of the biggest capital cities. Here in Beijing, you meet people who are academics and people who are educated compared to some other places. This place is the seat of government. Life here is swift and serious and you can find people everywhere here, even in the mountains.
Is there anything in Nigeria in terms of raw materials that they don’t have in China?
Nigeria has raw materials that they don’t have here in China, but Nigeria needs good roads, clothes, shoes and railways, which China has and it is easy for them (Chinese) to penetrate our economy.
How long have you been in Beijing?
It’s been three years now since I left Kano, Nigeria for Beijing . I live here with my family.
What are the challenges facing the educational sector over there?
A lot of students want to study a particular thing and become a particular thing but not all can be it. They have exams to take and it’s your mark that will determine the category of university you will go. We have high-level, middle-level, and teaching universities and the vocational university. Not all students get what they want. I think it is an individual problem if you cannot get enough scores. Maybe you aren’t meant to be what you wished for, e.g. medical doctor or another career.
So, you have to work hard to get the cut-off marks. However, China has been able to penetrate the rural areas as they offer scholarships and give incentives to encourage education in their rural areas. That is why you will find schools almost everywhere here, including villages because they value education. I like the fact that you can have a job because there is always a job somewhere unless you don’t want to work and the job will provide you food and shelter and make you safe.
You mentioned earlier about being a teacher there you have to be able to speak Mandarin, so do you speak Mandarin fluently?
Yes, I speak Mandarin fluently but you don’t have to learn it before being a teacher. However, learning it only adds to your knowledge as a teacher; I can speak it well.
What are your memorable experiences as a teacher?
There are a lot but the one that really moved me to tears was when they brought these kids. One of them is Jack. Jack was seven years as of the time he joined us, but now, he should be around nine and a half years. When Jack’s mother brought him, he didn’t know how to say anything and I was so confused and thinking of how to train him, because I teach as a group but he is left out among my students. So, I had to give extra time to Jack on basic spoken English and phonics and I taught him how to speak English and now, Jack can speak English fluently, and that really blows my mind as I keep working. He is now in Primary 3, what we call Grade 3 here. Though it took a year before Jack adjusted, it took him one year to be able to speak and write English.
What is your advice to Nigerian teachers who strongly believe that they are underpaid?
I don’t know how to advise them as they are not the cause of this challenge, but I will say that they should keep doing what they are doing. I will love to beg the Nigerian government to reconsider the importance of fundamental primary education for the country’s future. They need to adjust their curriculum, which is outdated, and redesign the system as teachers need to be compensated so well because that will encourage them to teach well and raise good kids and have foundations. Teachers made us who we are. In Nigeria, nobody will want to be a teacher because our society doesn’t have regard for them.
As an African, you will be easily noticed because of your skin colour. Have you ever experienced any form of discrimination in your workplace or in the public?
There is discrimination everywhere in the world. If you aren’t discriminated against in public, then they will do it in their minds. It is either you give it a good impression or bad impression or some even take pictures and videos of you because you are black, but I am not afraid of my dark skin. I educate people who approach me and I tend to change the narrative.
In the past, Nigerian primary schools had Moral Instruction as a subject and but it has suddenly disappeared from the school curriculum. What do you think is the cause?
I can’t really say there is a general cause but in my own opinion, Nigerian leaders are not showing good examples; people that are supposed to guide the country are the ones misbehaving. So, they themselves are not leading by example. They keep lying and deceiving the people. When the children grow, then they will understand how immoral they (leaders) are.
The level of education in northern Nigeria is poor with the number of out-of-school children on the rise. What can be done to change the situation?
So much needs to be done and everyone has to take part in it. Many things have changed in the country and people in the villages don’t really know. There are economic barriers and practices that discourage acquisition of formal education, especially the birth rate. Birth rate in the northern part has continued to increase and this is adding pressure to the education system. Increase in birth rate is one of the major reasons why we have many out-of-school children. Poor leadership also compounds the problem of the educational system, which is not up to the general expectation.
