Educational feature

 Decline of educational standards in Nigeria

BY EDWARD EMMANUEL

Over the years, education has proven to be the hub facilitating national development in any be state. Through education, knowledge is accrued and in turn dictates the tempo of development, because, through the creative process of the mind, innovation is made.

However, it is pathetic to see the falling standard of education in Nigeria today. The failure in students’ academic performance nowadays is alarming. Many students perform poorly in both internal and external examinations. The massive failure in both WAEC, NECO and JAMB, among others, can simply attest to the dwindling of educational standards in Nigeria today. This has left graduates helpless on the streets due to lack of self-reliance and over dependent on government and private owned jobs, even after attaining necessary skills that could make them independent from their respective educational institutions.

This perplexing issue invites questions, such as; What could be the causes? Why are the issues persisting? And how can these issues be curbed?

Education is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes through various formal and informal methods. It is a lifelong journey that begins in early childhood and continues throughout one’s life. It empowers individuals to understand the world around them, make informed decisions, and participate actively in society. Formal education typically takes place in schools, colleges, and universities, where students follow structured curricula and are guided by teachers and educators. This type of education provides a systematic and organized approach to learning and covers a wide range of subjects.

Informal education, on the other hand, occurs outside traditional academic settings and involves learning through daily life experiences, interactions with others, self-directed learning, and various activities and hobbies in the society.

Historically, the success of Nigeria’s independence was as a result of the enlightenment people got from those who were knowledgeable about their fundamental human rights, through education. Colonialism and slavery was as a result of higher level of illiteracy. The emergence of western education in Nigeria by the colonial masters and missionaries was to fulfill their own objectives. That is, the colonial powers saw education as a means to exert control over the local population. Also, Christian missionaries established schools and educational institutions to spread Christianity and also provided basic literacy and numeracy skills to the local population.

Over time, the educational system expanded beyond its initial colonial objectives. After Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the Western education system remained in place, with English as the official language of instruction and administration. It became the foundation of Nigeria’s formal education system and has continued to evolve since then. Despite its historical roots in colonialism, Western education has played a significant role in shaping modern Nigeria. It has produced a highly educated workforce, professionals, academics, and leaders who have contributed to the country’s development and progress in various fields.

Today, the standard of education in Nigeria has been eroded by many factors influencing its essence. it results from a combination of factors involving various stakeholders, including the government, educational institutions, teachers, and parents.

The government plays a central role in setting and regulating education standards at the national, regional, or local level. Its responsibilities include:

Governments establish curriculum frameworks and educational standards that outline what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. These standards provide a clear roadmap for educators to follow.

Governments create education policies that address various aspects of the education system, including funding, teacher qualifications, assessment methods, and more. Effective policies can drive positive changes in education quality.

Adequate funding is essential to provide quality education. Governments allocate budgets to schools and educational institutions to ensure that they have the resources needed for effective teaching and learning.

Governments monitor and assess the quality of education through standardized testing, evaluations, and inspections. This helps identify areas that need improvement and supports continuous enhancement of education standards.

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