According to UNESCO, 46% of Nigeria’s population is made up of children under the age of 15, and even then, about 10.5 million of that population are not in school. This statistic is more than enough proof that the education system in Nigeria is in a total state of crisis, and something has to be done about it.
Sadly, this situation has placed Nigeria as the country with the highest number of out-of-school students globally.
What are the Causes of the Educational Crisis in Nigeria?
While some factors affecting this issue are region-specific, general factors bind every area together.
So, what are the different problems that are plaguing the education system of the nation? Why are there more uneducated children than educated ones?
Schools are Under-Equipped
Sadly, so many schools around the country are overcrowded and under-equipped. There are no facilities to aid the learning process. Even some institutions have it as bad as not having enough teachers or having under-qualified teachers to teach the pupils and students.
Some towns and cities have only a few schools located far away from where students live. Hence, many have to walk long distances to be able to attend classes.
Since these learning institutions have poor infrastructure, little to no teachers, and are far away from students’ places of residence, many parents don’t see why they have to send their children to school. So, children are made to stay at home and do other things – perhaps learn a trade.
Economic Problems
Thankfully, not all schools are bad. Some have the proper infrastructure to facilitate learning and even enough teachers to teach the students. Still, many parents face financial problems and can’t submit their kids to school because they can’t afford their tuition.
Taking a child to school involves a lot of financial commitment. Besides the school fees, you also have to get them their uniforms, school books, and so on. The cost of education keeps rising day by day, and parents don’t have enough buffer for these ever-increasing costs. And with little money coming into the family, parents would instead focus on using the little they earn to feed the entire family than worry about spending almost all of it on education. This is one more reason why many children are out of school.
Lack of Funding
One of the significant factors affecting education in Nigeria is the lack of funding. Most of the funds required to improve the education sector have been diverted into other sectors. In fact, those funds weren’t even going to be enough in the first place, since the government can only provide so much money.
Sadly, few investors are interested in putting their money into the country’s education sector, leading to a lack of funds to improve infrastructure, pay teachers, and even provide free education for underprivileged citizens. In the end, the students suffer.
Underpaid or Over-stressed Teachers
Many Nigerian schools don’t have enough teachers, and the schools with enough teachers are not motivated enough to put in their best to teach students. There are many reasons for this poor motivation: poor teaching facilities, poor salaries, inconducive environments, etc. Some teachers even embark on industrial actions because of these issues.
Also, many of the teachers in schools and learning institutions are not qualified to teach. Many adults go into the teaching industry because they couldn’t get a job anywhere. So, imagine inexperienced teachers handling students; it’s a huge minus for the poor kids.
Political Influence
No one can deny that there’s too much political interference in the education system, which has contributed to the deterioration of the system. Now, many schools are established and run based on political grounds. So, admission into higher learning institutions is no longer based on academic performance, but on someone’s political affiliations.
What Are the Solutions?
Gladly, all hope is not lost. So long as everyone is ready to work together to make things better, we can always improve Nigeria’s educational system. According to Joan Young, a professional essay writer at Advanced Writers academic writing service, “Education is a combined effort, not a one-man job.” So, what’s the way forward? Honestly, it’s a no-brainer.
The first thing we should do is ensure that enough facilities are put in place to encourage learning. More schools should be built and made conducive for students. And since funds would make this possible, the government, Nigerians, and even foreigners should try their best to invest in the country’s education system. When there’s enough money, it will be easier to make the changes that the system needs. In fact, more funds would reduce the cost of books, tuition, and other school materials, so that the underprivileged students would still be able to enjoy the benefits of education.
Furthermore, the education system should be devoid of any political interference. Admission, awards, and recognition should be given based on merit and not on political affiliation.
All teachers should be well paid and given the necessary materials to help them teach the students well. And every teacher should be adequately trained to teach students and pupils. No one should look down on the teaching profession and think that anybody can impart knowledge to students.
Believe it or not, teaching is one of the most important professions in the world; these people are in charge of raising the leaders of tomorrow, and whatever these teachers teach the students will go a long way in determining how far a child will go. So, anyone who wants to take on the teaching profession should have the right qualifications and go through the proper training.
Parents also should be educated on the importance of education. Many parents don’t send their kids to school because they believe it isn’t essential. If these people are taught the importance of education, we will soon find many parents and guardians enrolling their kids in school.
Finally, more scholarship opportunities should be made available to students; that will help ease a lot of financial burdens.