The Importance of Education to National Development – A Case Study of Nigeria

The Importance of Education to National Development – A Case Study of Nigeria

Introduction

 The Importance of Education to National Development – Education is the best legacy a country can give to her citizens. Igbuzor (2006) in stressing the importance of education stated that education is a human right that should be accorded to all human beings solely by reason of being human. Furthermore, education improves the development of any society hence, the need for the educated one’s to occupy significant positions in order to improve the society.

Therefore, schools at various levels are expected to educate future leaders and develop the high level technical capacities needed for economic growth and development (Osokoya, 2008).

Undoubtedly, Nigeria had witnessed a series of educational system since its birth in 1914. Immediately after independence in Nigeria, there was a lot of ills and shortcomings in Nigeria educational system as it was based on the British educational system which did not pave way for yearning needs, interests and aspirations of Nigerian society. This gave birth to the 1969 Curriculum Conference that focused on Nigerian children in Nigerian society with National Policies on Education in 1977, 1981, 1998 and 2004 respectively (FRN, 1977; 1981; 1998; 2004), all with the prime purpose of improving the quality of Nigerian education (Adeyemi B. A. et al, 2012).

The utmost importance attached to education in Nigeria was clearly underscored in the National Policy on Education (FRN, 2004). The Federal Republic of Nigeria, in this policy, adopted education as an instrument “par excellence” for effecting national development.

In the face of government commitment to education, the quality of education in our schools has been declining tremendously. However, in this paper, emphasis is made on the implication of the poor implementation of educational policies in both our private and public secondary schools through the Secondary Education Board.

The Importance of Education to National Development –  Theoretical Framework

The Formal Organization Theory is adopted in this paper. The proponents of this theory include Luther Gulick, Henri Fayol, Lindel Uriwick, J.D. Money, A.C. Reiley and others. Henri Fayol is regarded as the most prominent enunciator of this theory.

This theory is of the view that an organization is goal oriented and in order for it to accomplish its goal or set of goals, certain tasks must be undertaken. These tasks can be so organised as to accomplish efficiently the organization goals (Onwe A.I., 2012). The main elements for this theory are objectives, tasks, rational behaviour, co-ordination and authority. The theory is of the view that employee’s behaviour is rational. Rational here means that human behaviour falls within the same system of rationality which permeates the setting up of an organization (Onwe A.I, 2012).

According to Henri Fayol, administration comprises of five elements, which include: forecasting and planning, organizing, commanding, co-ordinating and controlling. Onwe A.I, in his book, buttressed that to administer is to forecast and plan, to organize, to command, to co-ordinate and control. He further explained that to foresee means to provide means, examining the future and drawing up the plan of action. To organize means building up the dual structure, material and human, of the undertaking. To command means binding together, unifying and harmonizing all activity and effort. To control means seeing that everything occurs in conformity with established rules and expressed command.

Administration thus understood, is neither an exclusive privilege nor a particular responsibility of the head or senior members of the organization. It is an activity spread, like all other activities between head and members of the corporate body (Onwe A.I, 2012).

The most comprehensive enunciation of the Formal Organization Theory contained in Papers on the Science of Administration (1937) was edited by Luther Gulick and Lindel Urwick. Luther Gulick summed up the principles of organization in the word POSDCORB (Onwe A.I). To quote Gulick, POSDCORB is made up of initials and stands for the following activities:

Planning: It means working out in broad out-line the things that need to be done and the methods for doing them to accomplish the purpose set for the enterprise.

Organizing: That is establishment of the formal structure of authority through which work sub-divisions are arranged, defined and co-ordinated for the defined objectives.

Staffing: It involves the whole personnel function of bringing in and training the staff and maintaining favorable condition of work.

Directing: It is the continuous task of making decision and embodying them in specific and general orders, instructions and serving as the leader of the organization.

Co-ordinating: It is the all important duty of inter-relating the various parts of the work.

Reporting: It means keeping those to whom the executive is responsible informed as to what is going on, which this include keeping himself and his subordinates informed through records, research and inspection.

Budgeting: This includes all that goes with budgeting in the form of fiscal planning, accounting and control.

This theory reveals the reason for the poor implementation of educational policies in our private and public secondary schools through the Secondary Education Board, which is as a result of the ineffectiveness of the formal organization theory as summarized by Luther Gulick in an acronym POSCDCORB.

The Importance of Education to National DevelopmentBody of the Paper

With view to the importance of education for national development, Nigeria, having realized the effectiveness of education as a powerful instrument for national progress and development adjusted her educational philosophy and methodology to march the ideals and challenges of changing economic and social structure of modern society. Consequently, in 1982, Nigeria adjusted her secondary educational system to encompass diversified curriculum that integrates academic with technical and vocational subject intended to empower the individual for self-employment (Igwe, 2000). According to the National Policy on Education 1981; 2004, the main aims of secondary education in Nigeria educational system are preparation for useful living within the society (self-employment) and preparation for higher education.

However, after the adoption of the laudable initiative, majority of Nigerian youth are idle and some are involved in various vices due to unemployment. They do not have the required skills to either fit into many types of jobs that are available or create jobs. It is no longer news that there is an annual increase of unemployed youths in Nigeria. To worsen the situation, the former Minister for Education, Dr. Sam Egwu noted that the poor quality of graduates is worrisome. The major policy speeches of Late President Musa Yar Adua revolved around his aspiration of transforming Nigeria into one of the first 20 largest global economic by the year 2020. This vision cannot be achieved without youth empowerment for job creation and wealth generation. Adekoya (1999) claimed that for the Nigerian youth to be empowered economically, they should be given the necessary skill acquisition and in order to achieve this, the curriculum should be implemented effectively.

Curriculum is a vehicle through which education is attained. The secondary school curriculum as presently implemented is far from achieving the goals of secondary educational system. The curriculum was well structured and the contents were adequately defined but the implementation calls for question (Uchegbu C. N. et al, 2009). In the curriculum is enshrined government’s policy on education. In order for government’s policies on education to be fully implemented in our private and public secondary schools, the curriculum should be fully and effectively implemented.

 The Importance of Education to National Development – Objectives of  Curriculum

Following the political independence of Nigeria, there was a realization that the type of education our colonial masters left with us needed a critical re-examination of the worth: of content, objectives, relevance, methods, administration, evaluation, and so forth. This was said to have led the then National Educational Research Council (NERC) to convey a historic curriculum conference at Lagos in 1969 (Uchegbu C.N. et al, 2009). Ngozi and her colleagues noted that the conference recommended new set of goals and provided directions for major curriculum revision upon which the National Policy on Education of 1997 and the revised policy in 1981 and 2004 were based. Against this background of national aspirations, a new education system commonly referred to as the 6-3-3-4 system of education emerged. The system, which consisted of six years of primary school education, three years of junior secondary school education, three years of senior secondary school education and four years of post-secondary education was implemented in 1982 (Uchegbu C. N.et al., 2009). The 6-3-3-4 system brought about many innovations among which are the vocationalization of the secondary school curriculum in Nigeria. At the junior secondary level, pre-vocational subjects were introduced into the curriculum while vocational subjects were introduced into the senior secondary level.  The focus of the pre-vocational subjects was to expose students at the junior level to the world of work through exploration. Such exposure would help junior secondary school students make intelligent career choice and also intelligent consumption patterns. Among the pre-vocational subjects are practical Agriculture, Home Economics, and Business Studies. Introductory Technology is an integration of components of woodwork, metal work, basic electronic, applied electricity, water flow technology, airflow technology, food preservatives, automobile, technical drawing, physics, rubber technology, chemistry, plastics, basic building technology and ceramics. Business Studies have typewriting, shorthand, bookkeeping, office practice, commercial and computer science as component (Uchegbu C. N. et al, 2009). At the senior secondary level, recommended vocational and technical subjects include: Agricultural Science, Clothing and Textile, Home Management, Food and Nutrition, Typewriting and Shorthand, Principle of Accounts, Commerce Woodwork, Technical Drawing, Basic Electronics, Building Construction, Applied Electricity and Auto Mechanics.

According to Ajala (2002), the new National Policy on Education has all necessary ingredients for landing Nigeria into the future technologically, politically, and socially, adding that the policy if well implemented is a solid basis for the nation to launch itself among the great nation.

 The Importance of Education to National Development – The Secondary Education Board

The Secondary Education Board is a parastatal or organization under the Ministry of Education. The board is known with different names in different states. The Board is a viable instrument for the implementation of educational policies in our secondary schools, both in the junior secondary schools and in the senior secondary schools. The Board was established in recognition of the importance and distinctive role of the second tier of secondary education for effective transition into tertiary education and wider society upon successful completion of basic education.

In order to fulfill its statutory functions which is aimed at providing secondary education in all the state in Nigeria, the Board has as its mission to:

Develop, adopt and implement education curricula for secondary school leading to the acquisition of school leaving qualification and support the acquisition of life skills.

Build well equipped school facilities which provide clean safe and stimulating learning environments for young people.

Deliver a rounded educational curriculum that broadens the scope of learning experiences for teenagers.

Raise young people’s understanding and awareness of life options and the steps to take in making choices as adequate preparation for work and family life.

Continually develop the skills of staff in schools to help to achieve the Board’s mission.

 The Importance of Education to National Development – Summary of Findings

The study revealed remarkable findings. After a critical investigation was carried out in some of the private and public secondary schools within the state capital, it was discovered that students in the junior secondary level officer at most five pre-vocational subjects which are: Agriculture, Home Economics, Business Studies, Office Practice, and Computer Science. Subjects like Introductory Technology and Technical Drawing are left for the students in technical schools to offer.

At the senior secondary category, subjects like: Agricultural Science, Commerce, principles of Accounts, Home management are offered, while the technical schools include: Food and Nutrition, Typewriting and Shorthand, Technical Drawing, Applied Electricity, Automobiles and Fine Art.

Also, subject like Art and Craft, Clothing and Textile, Metalwork, Woodwork, Building Construction, Airflow Technology, Waterflow Technology, Food Preservatives, and so forth did not receive attention.

Also, it was discovered that the students do not engage in practical due to lack of facilities, thereby, the teaching method used in implementing the curriculum was mainly theoretical.

Noted among the findings also include that the State Secondary Education Board seldom visit schools for inspection.

The Importance of Education to National Development – Conclusion

As a result of the poor implementation of the curriculum, the implications are as follows:

1. The national economy will be affected: Education, as stated earlier in the introduction, improves the development of any society. Nigerian youths who are the future leaders need to be educated for them to be efficient leaders. Unfortunately, the poor implementation of the curriculum, which is designed to prepare them to be productive in the society for a positive turn around of the national economy, is adversely affecting the national economy.

Today, secondary schools graduates who are not opportuned to afford a post-secondary education are indolent, thereby, contributing nothing to the positive turn around of the national economy, which is an impediment to the objectives of the curriculum.

2. Nigerian youths, owing to unemployment, are involved in various vices which is as a result of inadequate skillful training while in school to enable them become self-employed if no white collar job is available.

3. This is one of the major reasons why the developed countries view us as undeveloped. Technology has speedily advanced countries and countries technologically advanced, develop speedily. The curriculum provides an avenue for the students be prepared technically but it’s poor implementation poses danger to the country’s overall development.

In a nutshell, the poor implementation of educational policies as enshrined in the curriculum is affecting the individuals and the society at large.

Recommendations

In order for the curriculum to be implemented effectively, the following recommendations are profered.

The Board should emphasize on the need for teachers to transmit the curriculum into their syllabus and always visit schools to inspect and to know the degree to which it is enforced.

After inspection, the Board should expedite their findings in various schools inspected to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry will in turn issue out directives to the Board for necessary actions.

During planning and budgeting, provision for facilities which will build up the skills of the students technically and in their vocational subjects, different from the theoretical method of teaching, should be planned and budgeted for.

As it is one of the functions of the Board to recruit teachers into secondary schools, teachers qualified both on theory base and practical should be employed and posted to various public secondary schools to handle these vocational subjects and urge the principals of the private secondary schools to do same. If the Board gains no or low compliance from the principals of the private secondary schools, then the Board should impose sanctions on them.

In conclusion, through seminars and workshops in various schools, students should be sensitized on the need for them to be trained in various vocational subjects so as to avoid dependency on white collar jobs which is always scarce, rather, be self-employed.

If the acronym POSDCORB as summarized by Luther Gulick in the Formal Organization Theory is adopted and effectively carried out, the Board, being a viable instrument for the implementation of the curriculum, will discharge their functions with efficiency.

To Get Accounting Project Materials, Click Here!

To Get Business Administration Project Materials, Click Here!

To Get Banking and Finance Project Materials, Click Here!

To Get Marketing Project Research Materials, Click Here!

Co-Operative Economics and Management Project Materials, Click Here!

  2013 copyright www.articlesng.com The Importance of Education to National Development – A Case Study of Nigeria

70 Comments on “The Importance of Education to National Development – A Case Study of Nigeria”

  1. obisanya omotola says:

    thanks you have solution to my problem,pls what are the article to this case study.pls i will need the article and also u can send the copy to my email.

  2. Abdulkareem Abdulhakeem says:

    This is a very good article, it really meets my need but i cant use it without reference. Pls help in puting the reference in it. I will be glad if it is done as soon as possible.

  3. Bashir mohammed bawuro says:

    I have read ur article and it cover major problems affecting our educational systemwith good recommendation dat need to be talking in to consideration by authorities responsible. May God bless you.

  4. This article is very good for my seminar

  5. More Info says:

    Extremely beneficial….look forth to returning.

    1. Nuhu adam aliyu says:

      It’s absolute food

  6. this is a very good article

  7. Rushi .k. khatlawala says:

    I got 1st rank because of this article who had written this article is the best man ever thankyou

  8. By Garuba Barakat Odunola. says:

    This is a good article, which covered the Educational Development of the Nation, but there is no reference.

  9. Waleru Temple I. says:

    Please would want this page to be sent to my mail address as I have benefited so much from this article but needs a print out sir.

  10. john comfort uka says:

    this is a wonderful article but i also need a reference

  11. Gambo Yalwa says:

    this is a perfect job. It really meet my need. But i would need the reference pls. Thankyou

  12. This article is good an makes me to know the value of education!

  13. Abah Sunday. This is a wonderful job. Hw do i reference my work? says:

    Nice material

  14. Fredrick Adeyinka MBP(uk) says:

    Bravo!Bravo!!Bravo!!! What an apt article. Constructively criticising in nature, factual in every aspect and problem solving in conclusion. Kudos to the writer(s).

  15. Thanks for this. It’s what i’d use for my project work. I need you to please send the references and the articles used. You could forward it to my facebook inbox. Thank you

  16. i’ve learnt alot,what an apt article.wonderful!

  17. Olayinka Oseni says:

    This is a very good article, well presented. Kudos

  18. nice material but cannot be referenced

  19. Ayanlola Emmanuel says:

    i like dis article it is indeed a great one buh i will nid d reference plz post it to my email.

  20. Shade Ajumah Olaomopo says:

    this is good and interest article which cover most relevant things that help us to know more about excess of education to Nigeria integrate. thank

  21. Sited Sources? This is full of great information but none of it can be used in anyway with out a source page.

  22. princess tinah says:

    pls help me to forward it to my email,its great.Good job

  23. Taiwo Adekemi says:

    This a good article. It really helped in my research work. please kindly send the article with reference to my e-mail. Thank you.
    Kemi.

  24. Dorcas Vesta says:

    I took the first position in a debate competition because of this article. Its apt and precise. Thank you

  25. Ojo Jeremy says:

    This pages is 9ice

  26. Williams novo says:

    Dnt u hv references?

    1. Contact us on 07033378184

  27. Abdul Ahmad says:

    Thanks bt one more thing, Pls i need References.

  28. Bashir rabi'u says:

    Am very apriciate,pleasure to see this article. But like others are saying this article is good to be with refences. So me too i support that.

  29. Asheer malami says:

    This article is well written and it can help the students alot but really it cant be use by the students because it has no reference

    1. For reference, contact us on 07033378184

  30. Adedokun Isiaka Adelani says:

    Do you have materials for any topics?

    1. yes we do. contact us on 07033378184

  31. Adedokun Isiaka Adelani says:

    Importance of primary school in Nigeria Education

  32. Jecho Ije says:

    mehn u’ve done a very good job here. keep it up bro. the sky is ur limit… cheers!

  33. A. Abdulsalam says:

    A nice work, thanks.

  34. Hussaini Ahmad says:

    What a nice work! positive implementation is the watchword for a sound development. it should be applied on vocational training.

  35. Ahmad Nura says:

    Nice but pls i am in need of reference immediately

    1. Contact us on 07033378184. Thank you

  36. kate Ahams says:

    This article was a God sent to me for my work. kudos for a work well done. But pls I need the references. pls send them to my e-mail. thanks and God bless you.

  37. Abubakar sadiq says:

    Thanks you pls what is the contribution of our education system to the development Nigeria society

  38. good but i need the four national educational goals of Nigeria i will be very greatfully

  39. Aliyu Shehu says:

    This is great, but cannot be referenced. Please allow young researchers to have access to your real academic work. This will further make your name to be written with a golden pen.

  40. ogbomo blessing says:

    great job like to learn from you if you don’t mind

  41. Abraham Oladimeji says:

    this is great, it would assist me in my research. how can i get acopy?

    1. For your proposed project material, call us on 07033378184

  42. Ishaku kwanda says:

    I am praund to be a teacher in nigeria. What are educational system in nigeria.

  43. ISHAKU SIMON( GOMBI GA'ANDA ) says:

    What is the history of traditional education in nigeria?

  44. OBIOZO tochukwu says:

    hw can we see

    1. CONTACT US ON 07033378184

  45. OBIOZO tochukwu says:

    let’s talk, 08034748898, OBIOZO, A.T

  46. kehinde damilola Kikelomo says:

    I want more details on childhood education, I need to learn more about childhood because I want to be a child sci ecologist

  47. jude sylvester basor says:

    a very magnificent piece, that needs not 2 be taken for granted. More greese

  48. Melechier Jimmy says:

    Iam Melechier Jimmy frm Liberia, i really appreciate ur article n i hope the government n the people of Nigeria will take it into consideration. Thanks alot

  49. Imran s. Bunu Garga kanam L G C Plateau State Nigeria. says:

    I thanks to God

  50. Nice article. Will appreciate if reference(s) can be sent to me via email. Thanks

  51. ISAH HAMZA says:

    What is the place of adult education in national policy on education in Nigeria.

  52. Aminu nasir hambarawa says:

    what are the rational teaching of social studies in nigeria?

  53. Treasure Dandy says:

    I really love this article,is good but i need the references thanks.

  54. Looking for a project topic which says “adult education as a factor of empowerment and development of youths” anything relating to this please I would need assistance in getting it. 07061261906 thanks

  55. ABU NAUSAMA DMRADIO FUNTUA 08069376967 says:

    funtua local gvment kastina state

  56. a wonderful article but then…references are needed

    1. Adamu abdullahi says:

      Thanks a lot

    2. Adamu abdullahi says:

      Thanks a lot

  57. Isaiah Osagie says:

    Education is still the best legacy a parents or a nation can offer her citizens & children. This article was helpful to me. I just use it to enlighten my students. Thank you so much.

  58. Magnetic generators on the other hand are devoid of the above challenges.
    Lastly, anybody must be capable to maintain energy for
    use with a later time. According to Sven Sigaard, president and CEO
    of Vestas Wind Systems (Denmark), the worlds largest maker of wind turbines, the
    cost of electricity generated from wind energy per kilowatt-hour can compete
    against other styles of energy once wind farms can be build close enough for the sea with efficient enough technology.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *