efisher:

Trust me, you guys don't want to go down this road with me. UN and UNESCO documents on education in Nigeria are in abundance on the internet. If you are educated enough to know how to use Google.com, you will be tired of reading. I will not do your search for you. But for the benefit of doubt, let me give you this small appetizer:

"Education has been at the top of the priority lists of some previous Nigerian governments
yet the education system is still far from being ready for the challenges of the new
century. Nigeria is not the only country whose education system is unprepared. A closer
examination of many systems, especially in a developing context, indicate that most of
the educational systems in developing countries are not yet ready to prepare students for
the contemporary global world"

Culled from: NIGERIA EDUCATION SECTOR ANALYSIS: AN ANALYTICAL SYNTHESIS OF PERFOMANCE AND MAIN ISSUES  by Teboho Moja
Visiting Professor of Higher Education, New York University, Department of Administration, Leadership and Technology, New York, NY.

THIS DOCUMENT WAS PRODUCED FOR THE WORLD BANK IN JANUARY 2000

Link: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/NIGERIAEXTN/Resources/ed_sec_analysis.pdf

Akainzo, the answers to all your questions are here. Have a nice time reading.

More for your delight:
http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/JSS/JSS-14-0-000-000-2007-Web/JSS-14-1-000-000-2007-Abst-Text/JSS-14-1-081-086-2007-541-Odia-L-O/JSS-14-1-081-086-2007-541-Odia-L-O-Tt.pdf

chamber2:

let me repeat this question to prove to you what a good system does.The labour market/employers of labour now want fresh graduates between 20-24 yrs,how is the Nigerian educational system responding to that? An average Nigerian graduate is b/w 25-28 yrs,that is why you see people lying about their age to get employment. A good system should cover this loophole.This not an issue of funding alone.If someone has headache,it could be as a result of fever or other ailments.If you leave the fever to cure headache the ailment will only subside but will resurface after a while.lets tackle the issue from the root.

The entire education system would benefit from coherent national policy development
rather than piecemeal reforms. The revision of educational policies is being considered as
a long-term goal, due to other pressing needs. The discussion of new policies would
benefit from careful attention to the recommendations made and adopted at international
meetings hosted by UNESCO and other donors for the various sectors of education. New
policies have to address the needs of a new democracy, its role in the new global order,
while reflecting the realities of Nigeria’s economy.

Universal primary education has been a stated priority of every Nigerian government
since its introduction in the seventies. The actual commitment of the different
governments to the scheme, however, has varied substantially. The economic problems
encountered have also contributed to the difficulties experienced in its implementation.
Successful implementation will depend on the availability of adequate resources, the
sharing of responsibility amongst different levels of government, greater community and

student participation. In recognition of the need for greater participation of the
stakeholders in the implementation of the scheme, the previous government passed
legislation that spells out the responsibilities of different levels of government and those
of various stakeholders. Other initiatives included the re- instatement of the National
Primary Education Commission and other management structures from 1993. The
objective at that time was to improve the management of the education system. A number
of initiatives have also been taken as basic steps to promote increased access to education
since 1990.

. . .

The system of education at all levels has undergone rapid changes and growth within a
context of an unstable economy. The education sector continued to expand even though
there were substantial economic setbacks. The economic crisis has had a negative impact
on the education system and played a major role in the decline of the quality of education
offered. New policies have to address, inter alia, issues of equity, access, funding, quality
and management of the educational system.

   

QUALITY

. . . .
The public perception is that the quality of education offered is low and that standards
have dropped. These perceptions are based on lack of adherence to acceptable
educational practice. Teacher qualifications are low. The learning environment does not
promote effective learning. Basic facilities, teaching and learning resources are generally
not available. Teacher-pupil ratios are high. General performance in examinations is poor
and the graduates have low levels of competencies in the work environment.
. . . .
Teacher Education

The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has responsibility for
teacher education in Nigeria. At present there are fifty-eight colleges, of which nineteen
are controlled and funded by the Federal Government, thirty-six by state governments,
and three are owned by private agencies.

The National Commission for Colleges of Education was established in 1990 to lay down
minimum standards for all programs of teacher education and accredit their certificates
and other academic awards after obtaining the prior approval of the minister. The
Commission was also given responsibility to approve guidelines setting out criteria for
accreditation of all Colleges of Education in Nigeria.

chamber2:

let me repeat this question to prove to you what a good system does.The labour market/employers of labour now want fresh graduates between 20-24 yrs,how is the Nigerian educational system responding to that? An average Nigerian graduate is b/w 25-28 yrs,that is why you see people lying about their age to get employment. A good system should cover this loophole.This not an issue of funding alone.If someone has headache,it could be as a result of fever or other ailments.If you leave the fever to cure headache the ailment will only subside but will resurface after a while.lets tackle the issue from the root.

@Chamber2, the government does not currently provide sufficient funds for research in public schools, let alone for private schools, but there is evidence to show that the private schools are doing much better than there public counterparts. But since those managing the system are not there to enforce standards in both public and private,  you are bound to find some of the same problems even in some, not all, private schools too.

For your Information, by the time I was 21, I was already receiving salary and that was after graduating from studying Computer Science at University of Lagos and completing my NYSC program. The 6-3-3-4 system would produce gradates at the ripe age of 21 giving that the entrance age is 5. But if you get to skip classes due to brilliance, you can do it 19/20. So my guy, the l[b]abour markets is focussed on the brilliant ones that can do it, not those that would do JAMB in 5 attempts or need 3 WAEC/NECO to get 5 credits[/b].

Can we all agree on one thing first:

THERE ARE MANY THINGS WRONG IN THE NIGERIAN EDUCATION SECTOR

If we agree with the above, I will be happy that at least, we are not yet completely blind. Next, we all should do enough research online and on ground with a view to discovering what those problems are. If you have a friend working in the Ministry of Education, just ask them the same question.

We will also agree that the following are possibly some problems plaguing the sector: Underfunding, Corruption, Indiscipline, Structural problems, Control Problems, Flexibility Problems, Curriculum Problems, etc.

The arguement left will be: DO THESE PROBLEMS EXIST? If yes, WHICH OF THESE ARE SYSTEM ISSUES?

If we can scale this hurdle, I will believe that we are on our way to recovery. I hope we can get to a common ground on this matter.

chamber2:

There you failed again,not everyone in the US,UK etc is brilliant so to say,but i can say that both have seemly equal chance of going to school at a very young age.The d/f may only be in the prestige of the school they attend.The brilliant ones may go to Harvard why the others may go to some less prestigious schools elsewhere.You see the situation?

I think unilag is good enough to produce graduates who support facts with convincing empirical evidence.Most people lie about their age and it is a fact.This can be supporter by the preponderance of people without birth certificate,they all have sworn affidavits.

My dear,education wise am not doing so badly.

efisher:

Can we all agree on one thing first:

THERE ARE MANY THINGS WRONG IN THE NIGERIAN EDUCATION SECTOR (Yes I typed sector not system)

If we agree with the above, I will be happy that at least, we are not yet completely blind. Next, we all should do enough research online and on ground with a view to discovering what those problems are. If you have a friend working in the Ministry of Education, just ask them the same question.

We will also agree that the following are possibly some problems plaguing the sector: Underfunding, Corruption, Indiscipline, Structural problems, Control Problems, Flexibility Problems, Curriculum Problems, etc.

The arguement left will be: DO THESE PROBLEMS EXIST? If yes, WHICH OF THESE ARE SYSTEM ISSUES?

If we can scale this hurdle, I will believe that we are on our way to recovery. I hope we can get to a common ground on this matter.

labour market is asking for and I showed you with facts that that assertion was wrong, and then you come up with this gibberish about US and UK universities, Harvard and mainstream!  Shocked Shocked Shocked
Everybody has a chance to go to school at an early age in the Nigerian educational system. Your choice of university will depend on your funds and how brilliant you are, same as in all other countries.

Most people around you lie about their age, so it is normal for you to believe it is a fact. I have never had an age declaration as I have always had my birth cerificiate, likewise majority of people I went to school with and surround myself with.

chamber2:

The system grew rapidly in the late seventies and early eighties. The growth was mainly
in size and not in quality. There have been problems in the implementation of policies for
the expansion of the education system that have contributed to their failure to assist in the
social and economic development of the country. Lack of capacity for planning and
management, limited financial resources, inadequate information systems and monitoring
systems are some of the problems that led to rapid and unplanned growth. More attention
had been paid to the expansion of the system due to political pressures than from a
concern about the provision of greater access to quality education.

efisher:


Now, here is an article that sums up both of our points:
http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/zayyad-muhammad/oby-ezekwesili-and-management-of-unity-schools.html

Some excerpts:
It is a known fact that, from the late 80’s, public schools in Nigeria, have been bewildered by government of Nigeria incessant revision of the education curriculum, constant amending of schools calendar, and the seeming joy in altering and introducing new system of education, these, coupled with, corruption in the system, over-bloated overhead cost at the detriment of academic tools, and the increasing decline  in fortunes of the Nigerian economy, are the major causes of the lapses in the education sector. it is sickening to note that, various measures introduced by past regimes in Nigeria and indeed the present regime of president Obasanjo have not yield a considerable improvement in creating an educational system that is maintainable, sustainable, reliable, dependable and responsive to our fast changing world, though, it is too early to start grading the present Universal Basic Education (UBE) introduced by the government of president Obasanjo.
       -- but the truth is, there is a huge hole on the health of our education system, and thus, as nation, we dearly need a means to finally construct a plan that will solve the continuing increasing problems in our education system, we really need a shift in the way our schools are run, and put up  a system that will provide adequate funding, help in improving standard and   quality of both teachers and students, a system that will completely aid in shifting away from the tradition, where government is the provider, administer, monitor and assessor of fund.


Now are we on the same page?

chamber2:

I had earlier concluded but your post made me to come back.I am not saying the 6-3-3-4 system be crapped,don't get me wrong.But we need to review it to address such issues as:

1.who funds education?Govt,parents,corporate bodies etc?
2.what is the role of the learner in the whole idea of education?Is the learner's involvement going to be passive or active?
3.What are the role of parents in the educational system?
4.Who supervises or monitors the progress of the educational system?Parents,teachers,govt,independent bodies etc?
5.what will be the emphasis of the curriculum?Vocational,technical etc?
5.How are students to be assessed?Exams,assignments,group work,projects etc?
6.How do we get feedback on the success of the education system?through student performance in exams( this is currently been practiced and i think it is not adequate),from parents,teachers,ministries,successful project completion etc?
7.who assess the teacher?govt,parents,students,independent bodies etc?
8.what should be the mode of transition from one level of the academic stage to the other?Final exams,final projects,group work etc?


These are some of the issues a good a educational system tries to address.I am sorry to say that the current system has not done a good work in providing answers to these and many other issues.

I hate to break it to do but the system has in the past done, and provided for much of what you have above, and done it well too. Again, the problem is due to neglect, we have not kept up quality wise.

I have to ask at this point . . . are you just wanting to engage in this simply cause of the elections? You come off as someone who has absolutely no clue what we even have at all, and it is hard to understand why one would even pretend to know the problems of a system that one clearly does not seem to even know of. Read the WORLDBANK report, and many other reports out there on our Education system please.

I hate to break it to do but the system has in the past done, and provided for much of what you have above, and done it well too. Again, the problem is due to neglect, we have not kept up quality wise.

chamber2:

I know what i am talking about,maybe you are the one finding it difficult to understand me.I have read the 6-3-3-4 system blue print and i can advise you well on that.
Let me ask you for instance,who assess the teacher?

chamber2:

There is neglect because the current system does not make provisions for measures that will checkmate neglect and abuse

chamber2:

And I ask you again,how do we get feedback on the success of the education system?