In Nigeria, standard indicators like enrolment rates, Literacy rates, and Infrastructure development are frequently used to assess education. These indications, however, do not take into account the importance of problem-solving abilities in the twenty-first century. Even in states with high educational attainment, like Abuja, Lagos, and Kwara, over 80% of instructors lack the necessary training to provide competence-based education. What’s more concerning is that more than 90% of them think the way they teach students now doesn’t prepare them for the workforce of the future.
While critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork are vital abilities for today’s workforce, they are still undervalued in the Education system, which is still fixated on Exam results and basic reading. Nigeria’s Educational System falls short in this regard despite international frameworks—such as those from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the World Economic Forum—highlighting the need of transferable skills for resolving practical issues. It is necessary to change Teacher preparation programs across the country in order to provide all educators with the necessary tools to help kids develop these fundamental skills.
NextGen Teachers Bootcamp seek to close learning gap.
By equipping educators to provide innovative, non-traditional learning experiences, programs such as the NextGen Teachers Bootcamp seek to close this gap. The benefit of skill-based Education in Nigeria is demonstrated in detail by a case study from the NextGen Teachers Bootcamp. Having debuted in 2020, the program taught more than 600 educators in several states, with an emphasis on enhancing their ability to impart creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking. The first pilot program for the boot camp took place in Lagos State, where teachers reported a 40% improvement in their capacity to lead debates in the classroom that promote independent thought and problem-solving.
According to a follow-up research, children in these classrooms showed a 35% improvement in critical thinking skills when compared to counterparts in traditional settings. This was mirrored in the student outcomes. Furthermore, according to 85% of the participating instructors, they felt more comfortable utilising digital resources to improve learning and adapt their teaching strategies to the needs of the twenty-first century. Similar gains were noted in Kwara State, where the program was extended in 2021. Teachers saw that pupils responded better to real-world problems when project-based learning strategies were used.
It is necessary to institutionalise continuous professional development.
For instance, a teacher shared how her pupils’ participation in a neighbourhood project to address trash management concerns increased their creativity and encouraged peer cooperation. By giving students a sense of agency and enabling them to become problem solvers, these initiatives equipped them for the kinds of abilities that employers will need in the future. A strong and urgent appeal for policy reforms is required to expedite such projects. The Ministry of Education and state governments in particular need to make a commitment to expanding initiatives such as the NextGen Teachers Bootcamp.
Funds for competency-based education-focused teacher preparation programs should be allocated as soon as possible, not only in underperforming states but nationwide. A progressive schedule can be put in place, with the goal of having 21st-century skills integrated into all teacher preparation programs by 2025. Nigeria might set a goal to train at least 70% of its teachers in problem-solving and critical thinking by 2030. In order to guarantee that educators can keep up with the constantly changing demands of education, it is also necessary to institutionalise continuous professional development.
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Immediate implementation of these reforms is necessary for the Nigerian education sector to undergo a true transformation. If we wait any longer, there’s a chance that the skills pupils learn will not keep up with the demands of the global economy, leaving a whole generation unprepared for difficulties ahead. In order to educate kids for the workforce of the future, officials must move quickly to incorporate skill-based education into the national Curriculum and to secure long-term funding for teacher preparation programs across the country.