The problem of education emerged from the neglect which the sector suffered from in the 1980’s leading to the gradual erosion of the system. Inadequacy of funding, lack of teaching tools and modern classrooms, poor numerations and the acute shortage of qualified teachers, have all contributed to the fall in the standard of education in Nigeria.
Westernized Nigerian society, which is a high source or way of distraction to students. Instead of studying, students (pupils) spend their time watching television, playing video games, listening to channels music (Channel O) and the present calamity face book and hi5 on-line media etc. which prevent them from reading necessary for knowledge acquisition.
Lack of dedication and punctuality to duty by teachers contribute to the falling standard of education. Teachers show divided loyalty to teaching job.Most teachers pay lip-service to their job, spending more time and energy in other business and less time in the classroom.
Parents also share in the blame. Most of them simply, do not care about their children’s education. They put all their attention into money-making, leaving the children guidance and motivation to housemaids and drivers, as a result, the children’s projects, home work would not be done, neither would they be reminded to study at home. Some children derail and drop out.
Government is largely responsible for the falling standard of education. Government change policies concerning education frequently, leaving both teachers and students confused. They also do not equip classroom and laboratories appropriately to enable effective learning. Corrupt officers who misuse institutions funds go unpunished. Exam malpractices, which is one of the major causes of falling standard of education has not been tackled by government. Look at the TSS issue, frequent strikes and the present universities’ school fees increase. Haba!
To gauge the seriousness of a society, especially its seriousness about attaining national development goals, we need to appraise the nation’s educational system. In other words, the state of education is one of the most important indices of national development. So how can Nigeria ensure sustainable national development without massive investment in the educational sector?
Can we harvest the critical/creative minds necessary to manage the democratic process if we do not invest in human capital development? Or can we compete in the globalised world of the 21st century? If a nation does not face its education development seriously, then there is no hope for such society.
To revive the educational sector in order to help in building the individuals to be able to assist the process of developing the society that can produce great minds, who can help build societies with honest lawyers, committed doctors, dedicated teachers, loyal army, professional bankers, experienced engineers, fair and unbiased journalists, also to attain the president Yar’adua vision 20:2020 among others, government should make sure our schools are equipped with functional libraries and laboratories. Classrooms should have modern instructional technologies, computers connected to the internet, projectors, audio-visual and video conferencing equipment etc.
Teachers cannot perform miracles without the necessary teaching aids (tools). Primary and secondary schools, which are the foundation of education should be properly built, funded and adequately staffed. It is also vital to have a healthy learning environment which also aids the teaching and learning interaction. That is why the United Nation’s benchmark is that countries must spend 26% of their budgets on education.
The vision of President Umaru Yar’adua that the Nigerian economy must be grown to become one of the twenty biggest economies in the world by 2020. That is just eleven years away, but can we achieve a phenomenal growth. So let government embark on massive rehabilitation, funding and equipping may not be realised without a functional educational system all stages and tiers of the educational sectors.
If the government provides or educates its citizens through functional education then the people will take their right places in social, political, economic and even religious life endeavours so we can reach to great heights and be among the twenty countries by 2020.
Adamu Muhammad Usman, Kafin Hausa Jigawa State, [email protected]
