15 Ways to Improve Education in Nigeria

The declining standard of the Nigeria educational system should trouble the mind of any well meaning Nigerian, because, Education is the bedrock of development. But unfortunately, a lot of problems bedevil the education system in Nigeria.

Poor funding from the government leading to lack of educational infrastructure, lack of quality teachers, inadequate classrooms and teaching aids like Computers, Laboratories and libraries, coupled with numerous social vices like malpractice, cultism and corruption all contribute to the sorry state of the Nigeria educational system.

If Nigeria must move forward into the age of technological and scientific dependence, government and the contributing private sector must begin to pay full attention to solving the myriads of problems surrounding the educational system in Nigeria. Below are a few solutions to the falling educational standard in Nigeria:

1. Increase funding to education sector

Both the government and the private sector should put in more fight and resources towards developing the education sector. The educational system of the country is suffering from decades of underfunding, and is therefore necessary for the government to design a workable plan towards funding education.

For example, UNESCO recommended 26% of a nations’ total budget to go to the education sector but since 1991, budgetary allocation to education has never crossed 10%. As efforts intensify to improving the current allocation, there is also need for monitoring how the funds that are currently allocated are being managed.

2. Examination malpractice has to finally end ‘kpata kpata

Because of the rising cost of education fees and other materials, students and even their parents go to any length to ensure they are not held back by any failure or deficits in required subjects.

Re-orientation and re-educating teachers, students and parents on the need to shun examination malpractice need to be carried out in schools across the country.

3. Establishment of more vocational and technical centers

Vocational and technical centers in Nigeria are few and are not properly staffed and equipped across the country. More of these centers need to be set up to cater for the growing population.

4. Need for independent inspectorate committees

It is very important to have this in place as the current one existing has stopped functioning effectively. The committee should be put in place and deployed regularly to monitor the activities of schools.

5. Free Education

Government should take responsibility of enrolment fees for secondary school external examinations and the primary six examinations.

6. Quality and affordable education should be made available

Acquiring quality education is supposed to help in fighting poverty, ignorance and diseases. But acquiring this knowledge has become an expensive burden for so many poor people who are in need of this knowledge.

Being in school today depends on an ability to offer what is required in monetary terms to those who offer the services and not on the quality of learning offered by school operators.

This trend cut across all level of education in the country from the nursery and primary schools to the secondary and tertiary institutions. Provision of quality and affordable education by the government can go a long way in improving education in Nigeria.

7. Proper equipping of schools

Schools should be equipped and staffed to compete with the global economy.

8. Equal opportunities for all Nigerians

Equal opportunities should be given to applicants seeking job placement to compete for placement regardless of grades acquired and institution attended.

9. Regular review of schools’ curricula to adopt new topics

This is another way to improve education in Nigeria. Subjects that enhance innovativeness and creativity should be introduced across board.

Topics about entrepreneurial and computer skill should also be introduced. Schools, colleges and universities across the country should adopt curricula and syllabuses that are tested, trusted and found effective.

The curricula and syllabus of particular concern is the primary school syllabus which children learn at their tender age. This is the level of development that serious attention is given to the lessons the young children will receive.

There must be training and experience on the side of the teachers handling them. They must be tolerant and tactful. They must be alert to observe the performance and conduct of their pupils.

10. Learning with modern learning aids

Teaching aids like computers, libraries, and laboratories should be made available in schools for sharper learning.

11. Introducing online registration for national exams

The national examination body should introduce online registration to mitigate the exploitative nature of most school heads.

12. Education conferences should hold regularly across the country

Stakeholders in the education sector should deliberate and brainstorm in order to finding lasting and acceptable solutions in the falling standard in education all over the country.

In the technological age of computers, smart phones, etc, we are in today learning has been made simpler as these innovations speed up the process of assimilating knowledge especially in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Advice and consultancy on how to overcome these problems will always be offered by the United Nations Agencies and other voluntary organizations once they are beckoned on.

13. Reviewing the National Policy on Education

The educational sector in Nigeria needs to be restructured and all possibilities involved with taking remedial actions to raise the standard of education should be explored.

A learning expedition should be sent to various part of the world to understudy their working educational system for comparison and learning new methods and principles to solve the quagmire.

14. Communication ability and skills in the language of instruction should be given special attention

Offering explanations in mother tongue (some of the time) could be a rewarding move. There should be rapport and understanding in the learning process with feedbacks and reaction desirable evidences that knowledge has been instilled.

15. Welfare package of teachers should be improved on

It is common knowledge that money and a suitable working environment are the major motivating factors for workers. Therefore, salaries should be paid as at when due and a good learning environment should also be provided for teaching and learning.

Conclusion

These are a few ways in which the government can improve the standard of education in the country to adequately prepare the young population to meet up with the requirements of the 21^st century.

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