Jim Iyke, the Nollywood actor, says there is some truth to the popular pidgin English phrase “school na scam”.

Speaking in an interview with music journalist Joey Akan, the actor argued that formal education often prepares people for discipline and obedience rather than real-life survival.

Classroom builds discipline, not survival skills

Iyke said schools help people develop responsibility and accountability. However, he argued that classroom lessons rarely equip students for everyday challenges.

“I will also tell you school is a scam. The curriculum is designed for programming and conditioning. There are times I’m in the middle of something, and I want to task myself to recall something I was taught during the time I spent within those four walls, but I can’t,” he said.

The actor said life experiences have contributed more to his success than formal education.

“But my life experiences, mentors, conferences, symposiums, books, self-taught experiences, theories of disloyalty, betrayals, the losses I have suffered, and more losses have all amalgamated into my present.

“That is the well of knowledge I pull from every time I need to advance a course, battle, or contend with something.”

Lessons from experience

Iyke said the classroom mainly proves that a person can follow instructions and function under authority.

“I think the classroom just does something. It is designed to show that an individual will show up for a task for a period of time, and that an individual can be trusted to show up for a period of time under a certain authority.

“The conditioning, the programming, makes it known that an individual can be accountable and responsible. But the knowledge gained there, if applied to everyday life, will fail you.”

Actor questions the financial success of academics

The film star also questioned the financial success of many lecturers and professors.

“We can also argue from the financial stability of our tutors and professors. How many of them are really doing well in life?” Iyke asked.

He argued that practical advice from traders, mentors and other successful individuals helped him more than classroom teachings.

Iyke added that several of the world’s wealthiest people built successful careers without relying solely on traditional academic qualifications.