From the etymological point of view, the word ‘education’ is derived from two Latin words ‘educere’ which means ‘to lead out’ and ‘educare’ which means ‘to bring up or rear’. Education, therefore, is a process of instilling skills in person which will build them.
According to Wikipedia, Education is the process of facilitating, learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits. It is the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgement, and generally, of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.
According to Oxford’s learners dictionary, Education is a process of teaching, training and learning, especially in schools, colleges or universities, to improve knowledge and develop skill.
Scholars defined education as a learning process for the individual to attain knowledge and understanding of the higher specific objects and specific. The knowledge gained formally resulting individual has a pattern of thought and behavior in accordance with the education they have gained.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela.
Nwala (1985) said, “a education whether formal or informal, is the recognized method whereby a person acquires most of his ideas, beliefs and attitude: in short his knowledge, skill and manners necessary not only to combat the hazards and problems of life and to secure the needs of…..but also to fit into the company of his fellow human being” (P.242).
Either informal, formal or non-formal, every form of education serves a general purpose to enact positive change in our lives and in the lives of others.
Did you know??
According to the World Economic Forum (2017), Nigeria ranks 124th out of 137th countries in terms of quality of primary education. Similarly, Fleet, Watkins and Greubel (2012) found that 58.3% of school children in Nigeria are not learning basic literacy and numeracy skills.
It was found that standards have fallen at all levels of education, with the tertiary level being most hit, followed by secondary and least, primary levels.
The reason for these abysmal ranks and standards isn’t at all bizarre.
In Nigeria, the education quality and quantity is a turbulence with about 10.5 million of the country’s children aged 5-14 years not in school. Only 61 percent of 6-11 year olds regularly attends primary school and only 35.6 percent of children aged 36-59 months receive early childhood education.
The Nigerian Education System currently runs a 9-3-4 system commonly referred to as the Universal Basic Education (U.B.E) which was introduced in 2006 to replace the previous 6-3-3-4 system.
According to findings fully supported by Pro-papers, an education writing firm in the U.S.A, the education sector should be paid lots of attention because it gives room for the country’s development. Unfortunately, the case is quite different in Nigeria, asides less attention being paid to the education sector there’s an overwhelming amount of challenges facing the educational sector. Some of which are:
1- INADEQUATE FUNDING.
Funding is a necessity if there’s need for an outcome. To enable effectiveness and efficiency in the educational sector, funding is essential.
In 2016, of the 7.29 trillion budget, education was allocated only 7.9 percent. This was reduced to 6.1 percent in 2017 before it was increased to 7.1 percent in 2018. Allocation to the sector nosedived to 6.5 percent in 2020 of the 10.27 trillion budget while it got 5.7 and 5.4 percent in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has argued that Nigeria’s education budget for 2022 should have been 1.14 trillion an equivalent of 8.4 percent of the county’s total annual budget and not 5.4 percent.
Presently, a review of the proposed 2023 budget shows that 1.08 trillion was allocated to the Federal Ministry of Education (F.M.E) and its agencies.
Noticeable, is the lackadaisical attitude towards the education sector in respect to funding. There’s less regard for an important sector.
REMEDY: The change starts from the budget allocation; from the National Assembly itself. This should be corrected from the chambers. There should be a rise in the amount constantly being allocated to the sector before being signed by the parliament.
2- FEEBLE ADMINISTRATION
Nigeria runs a federation system which means the education sector is managed at the federal level (Federal Ministry of Education). These recent administration has proven to be less committed to duty as opposed to previous administrations. We’ve had people like Mrs Chinwe Ohja who authorized the Post UTME program, Professor Tunde Adeniran who executed the Universal Basic Education (U.B.E) and founded the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Babatunde Fafunwa who enacted the use of indigenous language for learning in 1990, Oby Ezekwesilli, Ruqqayat Rufai, these ministers who indeed carried out their management and administrative duties effectively. They committed deeply to serve. The present administration is nothing to write home about as a lot of nonchalant attitude is displayed towards service and there’s a couple of corrupt practices.
If the soil isn’t fertile, the seed won’t germinate. If the administration is corrupt, barely will there ever be a cultivation of positive results.
REMEDY: There should be a proper evaluation of persons before they’re asked to resume office. A proper background check should be carried out and only persons with enough experience at hand should be recruited to carry out administrative services in the sector.
3- INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES
This has been one of the greatest challenges facing Nigeria not just in the educational sector but in every other sector. Imagine teaching children in a classroom with no roofs and it starts raining?? What do we expect?? Not just this, there are a number of learning process that needs to be carried out even at tertiary levels but there’s an inability to do so as our wants are unlimited but means limited. There are no infrastructural facilities available to work with. It’s slowly cutting deep into the system with how sacrosanct the curriculum has become. Carrying out new curriculum will be almost impossible with the inadequacy of infrastructural facilities available.
REMEDY: This comes in conjunction with funding. Necessary, is the right allocation and dispensation of funds to the education sector to enable infrastructures be put in place.
4- APATHY
Apathy means lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern.
Common on the lips of Nigerian youths is, “School na scam” (schooling is a scam). It’s no news that a wholesome amount of Nigerian youths no longer see any form of education necessary be it skill-acquisition, informal or formal. We are at the edge of a precipice with a vast majority of youths diverging into frivolous sources/means to ‘blow’ and get ‘fast money’. It’s important I also establish that the government contributed deeply to this alarming state of apathy towards education with the high rate of unemployment looming around the country. It’s to no surprise the devasting number of social ills noticeable in our society today.
REMEDY: Let’s start from the government: Would the government mind creating more work opportunities for the youths?? Also, enlightenment programs should be made available for youths. This enlightenment programs should advocate the importance of education (not just formal) in our lives and how much positive change it can bring to the society at large.
5- BRAIN DRAIN
Brain drain, the loss of highly skilled professionals from a source country to a recipient country. The “JAPA WAVE” has hit the country so hard, everyone wants to leave the country in search for greener pastures. Who’s to blame?? In the education sector is the consistent striking of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) due to hoarding and failure to disburse their salaries. The welfarism of teachers is a jocular show to the government, therefore, teachers have sort to go to countries where their welfare is of great concern to the government. This has greatly affected the sector, with less qualified teachers and experts available which has led to a deterioration in the system. Not just at the tertiary level, primary and secondary school teachers are also not considered valuable and are cared for less than they should be.
REMEDY:
1. Enough job opportunities should be created and the remuneration should be high.
2. An increase in the investment into the educational sector should also be considered.
Education isn’t only going to schools and passing our examinations. Education enhances us with skills, knowledge and manners necessary to successfully sail through the hurdles of life. Every form of learning is education, from skills acquisition to undergoing vigorous training in certain areas, every form of learning and training is to build and shape us as humans rightly to help in fulfilling our purpose and destiny. Education is truly key.
Rizqah Aberuagba,
Lagos State University.
