Nigeria's Minister of education Mr. Alhaji Adamu in a recent interview noted that Nigeria has about 65 million to 75 million illiterates which is a huge figure considering the entire country's population is hovering over 160 million people.
A line on Wikipedia sums up Nigeria's education system,
'a unified set of educational policies has not yet been successfully implemented. Regional differences in quality, curriculum and funding characterize the education system in Nigeria.
What are the problems killing education in Nigeria?
This post discusses five of them and prescribes possible solutions which must be implemented in order to fulfill the purpose of education in Nigeria.
Problem 1
Poor Funding
Education in Nigeria has always taken second fiddle in the national budget and receives the least attention by the government in power.
Incessant strike action by different bodies of education over unpaid salaries has been an unending feature of the education system in Nigeria and has since shown no signs of stopping.
Teachers especially in South Eastern Nigeria, are owed salaries for centuries and are forced to teach students in a dilapidated school facility.
Education is not less expensive in south-east Nigeria.
This generally kills the education system as both teachers and students may never taste the real value of education.
Solution
The future of the teeming youth population in Nigeria would be adversely affected if this trend continues, hence, the government and concerned bodies must place on education, the same value attached to the production of crude oil in Nigeria.
Funds should be injected into providing the best learning conditions comprising of the best facilities and prompt payment of salaries to teachers. This would ensure maximum productivity from them which would be hugely beneficial to students.
Problem 2
Rapid Rise In Rate Of Examination Malpractice
Examination malpractice in Nigeria has been on the upward curve in recent years and is one of the problems killing education in Nigeria.
It has practically become a norm for teachers to assist students in writing their external exams in exchange for huge sums of money.
Examination insurance organizations operate in every nook and cranny of the country and offer students the opportunity of making excellent results with very little effort.
Also, the best results in some tertiary institutions are awarded to the highest bidder, not the students who have merited the result.
Solution
JAMB's recent efforts in the war against malpractice which resulted in the blacklisting of 72 centers for technical deficiencies and malpractice illustrates what must be done to wipe out examination malpractice in Nigeria.
These examination insurance organizations must be halted. Students must understand that the only way to pass an examination is efficient study.
Problem 3
Failure To Incorporate New Learning Technologies In Nigeria.
With the global shift to digital, the need has arisen for the implementation of these stress-free processes and products in the Nigerian educational system, but this has rarely ever happened.
School proprietors, teachers, and lecturers who have very little knowledge of these techniques are less likely to adopt them.
Books in an electronic format can conveniently get to any part of the world and are usually more affordable. Video lessons also serve up a great learning experience for students who are in this modern era, more inclined to a computer or mobile screen than a chalkboard.
Solution
Training programmes must be organized to acquaint students, teachers, and lecturers on ways to incorporate new learning technologies which foster a fast-paced and responsive learning experience.
This would also to a large extent, reduce computer illiteracy rate in Nigeria.
If these changes are not swiftly implemented as other high profile countries have, then a time would arrive when knowledge gotten from Nigeria cannot complete a simple project in another part of the world.
Problem 4
A Lack Of Employment Opportunities
The unemployment rate in Nigeria has reached an all-time high and is showing no signs of a decline soon.
Rapid industrialization has been uneven across the various states of the country, leaving only a very few job vacancies for the teeming population of graduates
More so, godfathers secure these jobs for their godsons with or without merit. This nationwide epidemic has kept millions of credible and competent individuals outside the working class in place of mediocrists.
Solution
The government needs to build more industries which in turn provides job opportunities for Nigerian graduates.
Students are also encouraged to study courses which have an entrepreneurial advantage. This is to enable them to build their own businesses and subsequently employ others who are ready to join the labor force.
Startup loans are also to be made available to such visionary individuals by the government.
A war against procurement of jobs for unqualified graduates will also ensure that only qualified people get the job.
Problem 5
Poor Educational Awards & Scholarship Programmes
While the government has hesitated to maximally invest in the educational sector, individuals and organizations with exorbitant wealth have failed in structuring unbiased scholarship programmes for talented students.
These funds are instead channeled into other ministries which may never have an impact on the life of the young Nigerian.
Shell Petroleum Development Company, Innovative Future, and the Nigerian Stock Exchange are the most notable organizers of scholarship exams while other micro organizations who may have such visions struggle to get sponsorship deals.
In other cases, however, malpractice readily swings these scholarship Awards in favor of students who never merited it.
Solution
A motivation for education organized in form of scholarship award programmes by organizations will help rekindle the desire to study in students and reinforce their belief that education is still the key.
Also, Read - How To Study And Understand All School Subjects In A Few Weeks
Rounding Up On The Problems Killing Education In Nigeria
Education is the key but is not opening a lot of doors at the moment.
Education in Nigeria can finally achieve its major purpose of producing young intellectuals and big influencers at the world's stage if these challenges are successfully defeated.
Who will kick off the campaign?
It all begins with you!
Share your thoughts in the comments section on what must be done to fight these problems killing education in Nigeria.
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