Concerns Mount Over Educational Quality in Nigeria
The declining quality of education at all levels has emerged as a pressing issue among educators and the general public in Nigeria. A World Bank report released in 2018 highlights a significant learning crisis, noting that primary and secondary schools in Nigeria and other developing nations face substantial moral and economic obstacles that hinder their ability to provide students with the essential educational tools needed for success.
Universal Basic Education Program Faces Challenges
Established in 1999, the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program aims to ensure that children acquire adequate literacy, life skills, and ethical values. Despite its establishment, the moral and civic education needed to foster long-term learning remains elusive, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of the program.
Enrollment Challenges for Out-of-School Children
A critical issue for the federal government and various stakeholders in the education sector is how to enroll the over 10.5 million out-of-school children in the educational system. However, a World Bank report warns that the ongoing learning crisis poses a significant barrier to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, particularly Goal 4, which aims for inclusive and equitable education for all.
UNICEF Leads Efforts to Address Basic Education Issues
In light of these challenges, UNICEF, in collaboration with the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) within the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, recently held a two-day media dialogue in Kano focused on basic literacy and numeracy. Experts addressed key issues affecting foundational education. During the event, UNICEF Field Director Rahama Mohammed Farah noted that Nigeria is currently grappling with a learning crisis, where insufficient learning is occurring in schools.
The Reality of Learning Poverty
Farah, represented by Elhadj Issah Diop, UNICEF Field Officer in Kano, pointed to alarming statistics from the World Bank indicating that 70% of 10-year-olds in Nigeria cannot comprehend simple sentences or perform basic arithmetic. He emphasized the importance of education as a fundamental human right, highlighting its critical role in children’s development as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Government Funding and Structural Challenges Undermine Education
The Federal Government acknowledges that inadequate funding, along with a lack of capacity to implement the national curriculum and poor teacher quality, are key obstacles to achieving educational objectives and reaching SDG targets. UNICEF Education Specialist Manar Ahmed expressed concern over Nigeria’s significant learning crisis, which has resulted in over 70% of children lacking basic foundational skills. He attributed this alarming situation to chronic underfunding, noting education received only about 7% of the national budget in 2022, equivalent to merely 1.7% of the country’s gross domestic product.
Addressing Teacher Quality and Educational Funding
Professionals in the field have identified the lack of qualified teachers as another hindrance to educational progress, with roughly 27% of educators deemed unqualified. The high student-to-teacher ratio of 1:55 further complicates the situation. Ahmed pointed out that Nigeria’s education policies exist but lack the necessary political will for effective implementation. He remarked on the urgent need for increased public spending on education to combat the learning crisis, indicating that President Buhari’s approval of a 7% budget allocation for the education sector is a positive step.
UNICEF’s Commitment to Addressing Educational Challenges
UNICEF is actively working to tackle these challenges through evidence-based learning programs. Dr. Chidibele Ezinwa from the Department of Mass Communication at Enugu State University emphasized that relevant legal frameworks, including the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, establish a basis for realizing children’s rights and meeting SDG objectives. He argued that without a focus on children’s rights to education, the SDGs will remain unattainable.
