Nigerian researcher and preschool Education specialist Oluyemisi Oloniyo discusses her educational background and her observations about the distinctions between Nigeria and the US’ educational systems. Before coming to the United States as a graduate student at Washington State University (WSU), she began her career as a teacher, assessor, and advocate at the Supreme Education Foundation School in Lagos. As a researcher and instructor at WSU’s Centre for Civic Engagement, she is currently working towards a Ph.D. in educational psychology.
She recently received the coveted Woman of Distinction Award from WSU, which honours women for their academic achievements and community service, making her the first Nigerian to receive. Oloniyo’s job include putting students in touch with community service initiatives that complement their coursework, giving them practical experience while benefiting marginalised groups. While Nigeria offers a strong foundation, she observes that American students participate in more experiential learning and are exposed to the real world through required practical work each semester when comparing the educational systems of the two countries.
Experiential learning increases student motivation and engagement.
To better prepare students for issues they will face in the real world, she highlights the need for greater hands-on learning in Nigeria. Oloniyo had not originally intended to pursue a career in education because she had intended to get a degree in accountancy. But after changing to education because of difficulties getting in, she found her calling and took it to the next level. Her leadership and research responsibilities have enabled her to support projects like Pullman 2040, which seeks to influence Pullman, Washington’s workforce development and educational landscape.
Notwithstanding obstacles like scarce resources, she thinks Nigeria might follow comparable patterns by identifying educational gaps and putting practical learning techniques into practice. The concept of “learning by doing,” or experiential learning, has been demonstrated to increase student motivation and engagement. Programs like the Model UN and Judicial Internship have helped students in the US apply what they have learnt in the classroom to real-world situations, which has improved their writing, communication, and critical thinking abilities. Furthermore, by integrating academics with career pathways, a planned pilot program in Connecticut seeks to re-engage high school students who are at risk by using project-based learning in key subjects.
There are opportunities for bilingual ed. to improve cultural awareness.
More so, experiential learning is less common in Nigeria, where instruction is frequently more theoretical than hands-on. Meeting labour market demands and adjusting to real-world applications have been connected to difficulties with this strategy. Recognising that experiential methods can improve learning results, attempts are being made to incorporate them. Notable intellectuals and substantial labour force contributions have come from Nigeria’s educational system. Due to the nation’s linguistic diversity, there are opportunities for bilingual education, which can improve cultural awareness and cognitive skills.
Nevertheless, issues including a lack of infrastructure, insufficient money, and a Teacher shortage still exist. Due to the theoretical emphasis of the system, graduates frequently lack practical skills, which causes underemployment and unemployment. Low Literacy rates and unequal access to education, especially in rural areas, also impede national progress. The following actions are suggested to improve Nigeria’s educational system. bridging the gap between policy creation and implementation by guaranteeing that educational initiatives are successfully implemented. boosting funding for educational resources and Infrastructure to establish favourable learning environments.
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Additionally, to raise the calibre of education, instructors should get ongoing Professional Development funding. Incorporate Vocational Training and experiential learning into courses to give students real-world experience. setting up thorough evaluation procedures to keep an eye on and improve educational standards. ensuring that projects address particular needs by including local communities in educational planning and decision-making. By putting these policies into place, Nigeria may develop a more inclusive and successful Educational System that equips students for the challenges of the contemporary world.