Recently, a data released by the United Nations disclosed that India is at the verge of surpassing China as the most populated country in the world. This is said to be an expected result owing to China’s previous One-child policy. Regardless of this population outgrowth, the economic success of China outweighs that of India’s. An article published in the New York Times stated that China’s rise to economic power is owing to its massive investment in infrastructure, education.
Between the late 1940s and mid-1970s, under the leadership of Chairman Mao of the Chinese Communist Party, China channeled massive investments to improvement of education. Resultantly, its literacy rates increased and more people have finished grade school, high school, and college, in comparison to India. Although, India is globally recognized as a home to various leading services and software development companies around the world, it does not have as much investment in education as China.
Global highest population of out-of-school children, Nigeria.
There are diverse benefits for a nation that invests in education. They include promotion of social cohesion, improved levels of economic growth, higher average incomes, reduction of inequality and reduced unemployment rates. Despite these advantages that accompany robust education systems, Nigeria lags behind in the various markers of education, including school enrollment, number of out-of-school children, and quality of educational institutions (primary level – tertiary level). In a recent survey of the world’s university rankings, the University of Ibadan appeared at 1000+ position and was the first Nigerian university to appear on the list. In Africa’s rankings, the same university appeared at a good position (top 30).
Data released by UNICEF has also revealed that Nigeria now has the highest population of out-of-school children in the world as there has been an increase in its statistics from 10.5 million to 13.2 million. Many of these children are aged 5-14 residing in Northeastern states like Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. Consequently, the educational system of the country is in a critical condition and it needs urgent support. The crisis ongoing in the country’s educational institutions is a result of the inefficiencies in other sectors which include corruption, absence of accountability, bad work ethic, and others.
Deficiency in education has its root in primary education.
The current state of education in Nigeria began with the deteriorated state of primary education. Students who have bad primary education automatically have major deficiencies even before graduating into secondary schools. Secondary school teachers try their best to correct these deficiencies but are unable to do so effectively. Consequently, these students find their ways into the university where lecturers also try to correct an inadequacy that began in primary school to no avail. The change which the system needs should begin from the primary level.
Also, there should be more concentration on educational reform to foster improvements of tertiary education. This is because it is responsible for determining the final outcomes on educational investment for graduates and the country at large. There should also be a radical change in the curriculum as students are being taught outdated materials that are insufficient to prepare them for intellectual and professional environments and difficulties of this century. Materials that enhance critical thinking and problem-solving aptitudes are needed in the curriculum of tertiary education.
University rankings do not bear a 100 percent truth.
Additionally, there have been a call for improvement on the evaluation of academics’ performances and their teachings/research output. Concerning the position of Nigeria in rankings, it was affirmed that university rankings has no utility beyond the capitalist and academic elitist impulse, although is shows the level of rot in Nigeria’s educational system in some ways. It was likewise said that rankings are usually rigged by wealth and corrupt university administrations and as a result should not be regarded as dependable indicators of academic excellence.
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Nigerian education system in a critical state. – China has massive investment in education and higher literacy rates. – Express your point of view.
Our educational system is at a state where there is need to have a total overhaul. There is need for us to ensure we change the curriculum and change the academic system of the country through innovation.
Nigerian education system in a critical state. Our government do not value Nigeria education. They have refuse to invest on education. They don’t care about investing on it. Other countries are investing more on education because they understand the important of education
All the great developed countries we see today value education more, their government invested more with good support to their Citizen. Government need to invest big in Nigeria educational system
It is obvious looking that Nigeria education system is still below the top standard with the various event occurring in the sector. More investment and infrastructure development could revive the sector.
We need to build a more robust education system in Nigeria to be able to fully access the underlying potentials of better education and increase the societal learning.
Nigerian education system in a critical state our education need reform bringing new system to education sector and invest in it to make it standard
In other for our education system to be on standard level it need to be rebuild and required to be invest in it, bring innovation to the system
Some of the main challenges facing the Nigerian educational system include:
1. Underfunding
2. Inadequate infrastructure
3. Poor teacher quality
4. Inconsistent curriculum and academic standards
5. Poor student outcomes
6. Security issues
Ultimately, without significant changes and investment, Nigeria’s education system will continue to decline, with far-reaching implications for the country’s social and economic development.
Our educational system has failed woefully because the Federal Government has failured in their duties to do the needful in this sector.
Several things are wrong in the country. The value attached to education has being slaughter at the altar of money. The FG most find a way to resusitate the value in education.
Using the approach of China might not be wise. It will be better to use our own local way based on series of studies and researches carried out to solve the problem.
The FG should also consider how examination malpractices can be curb in all school at every level of any institutions.
Our school should be well equipped and be allow to be actively involve in research and technological development of the country.
Lastly, our educators should be well remunerated to serve as a motivator to them.
Basic amenities should made available to the country.
The values in Educational system in Nigeria is dead. It has to be revive.
We have a culture in Nigeria that has integrated with our educational system. The FG must device a means to remove such from especially our primary and secondary schools, and that is examination malpractices.
Secondly, FG should up with a realistic plans that will restore education value and encourage children to go to school.
Thirdly, FG should make standard education cheap and affordable to a common man. If possible it should be free.