A viral video showing a group of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) graduates struggling to answer a basic question about telling time has sparked widespread debate on social media.
In the clip, the graduates were asked what “quarter past six” meant. Some appeared confused and gave incorrect responses, others hesitated before attempting an answer. The exchange has since attracted thousands of views and comments across various social media platforms.
The video has triggered mixed reactions online, with many users expressing concern about the quality of education and basic literacy among some graduates.
A user wrote:
“Most Nigerian teachers skip teaching topics they find difficult or tasking. From pry to secondary level, it has become a habit for them and it’s disgusting! They say, “go and read it in your book.
Avoiding teaching “10 minutes past 9” and the likes, ‘cos it’s tedious.See am!”
While some argued that the video was edited to give the present impression it’s given now.
@Big_Mck argued:
“You people should be very careful about content like this. It was recorded, edited and optimized to elicit the exact reactions it is getting from you. Before you conclude that your graduates don’t know what “quarter past six” is, understand that the creator may have edited out those who got it right from the raw tape. Of course, if the video didn’t come out like this, you would not have engaged it. Be very careful about the algorithm creating a very false reality of your society.”
Others further argued that the brief clip should not be used to judge the intelligence or competence of all NYSC members, noting that nervousness during public interviews.
However, some commentators also pointed out that many people today rely heavily on digital clocks, making expressions such as “quarter past” or “half past” less familiar to younger generations.
As the video continues to circulate, it has reignited conversations about educational standards, practical life skills, and the pressure of being put on the spot during street interviews.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
