Current Education System: Reflection of Challenges, Technology, and Inequality

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The Education System in Nigeria – A Clear Look at the Struggles and Gaps

Honestly speaking, education in Nigeria is not what it should be. From the early stages in primary school to even the university level, there are too many challenges holding students back. Some people might argue things are improving, but when you see what’s really happening in schools across the country, you’ll know we’re far from where we need to be.

Primary and Secondary School Struggles
If you go around the country, especially outside the big cities, you’ll see schools that are barely functional. Some don’t even have proper buildings. In most schools in the rural areas, students sit on the floor and use old textbooks, and the teachers are few, most even not really trained. Many of them try their best, but it’s hard to deliver quality education when the environment is that bad.

At the secondary level, some students are lucky to go to decent schools, but for the majority in public schools, it’s still tough. Most of the focus is on passing external exams like WAEC or NECO, not on learning skills or understanding subjects. You can’t blame the students — everyone is just trying to survive the system.

Tertiary Institutions Aren’t Better
Now let’s talk about universities and polytechnics. A lot of people think once you enter university, it gets better — but that’s not always the case. Many public universities are overcrowded and underfunded, and the infrastructure is old. The strikes don’t help either. A course that should take four years can end up taking six or more. Thereby causing some students to lose motivation along the way.

There are lecturers that try, but some still use the same outdated notes from years ago. Some don’t even show up to class. You go to the library and find books from decades back. The Internet is poor, labs are empty, and you have to pay for everything — from handouts to course registration.

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Technology and the Digital Gap
The world has moved on with digital learning and tech-based education, but in Nigeria, many students can’t even afford to own a proper smartphone or laptop. During the pandemic, a lot of students couldn’t join online classes simply because there was no light or internet in their area. Another aspect that has been an impending issue for many years, Even now, some schools talk about digital learning, but it’s not working properly because the basics are missing — power, data, and training.

Inequality From the Start
Inequality in the Nigerian system cannot be overlooked, From the rich buying slots for their children thereby depriving those who really merited it to be left stranded, children of the rich get quality education because, they go to private school and get quality education, whereby the majority attend public schools thereby learning in unbearable situations, many of them drop out due to the lack of funds to pay for the fees and other basic things needed in school.

Now looking at the northern part of the country the girls there are married of early and not even allowed to complete even primary schools in some cases and because of this they never return to schools. Those with disability do not get any support, they are left to beg around on the street to be able to even eat.
While some are being led through every step of the way, others have to fight every step of the way, this is unfair.

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What can be done to change things
Funding: The educational system will improve if money is being put into schools to improve its infrastructure, updating learning tools to make learning better. Teachers on the other hand, are not to be left out since they are the ones that shape the future of young minds to become great, they should be trained and paid well to give quality education.

Access to technology: since the world is evolving to the era of technology, basic technological devices should be provided to also aid effective learning

Community involvement: In some communities, there are beliefs that a gender of a family should not be allowed to go to school because of some ancient beliefs, this should not be so, both parents and local heads should be enlightened on this matter to reduce their ignorance on the matter.

End the reoccurring strike in tertiary institutions: Governments should work hand-in-hand with university unions to reach an agreement to end strike in schools, so that learning will not be disrupted due to poor communication between these two parties

Conclusion

Every child deserves to get quality education, it shouldn't be dependant on how rich your parents have or not, or where you were born.

If the government, schools, and we the citizens take education more seriously, we can build a system that actually help young people grow and succeed. We don’t have to wait for another crisis before we act. We have to rise and fix this issue. What’s your experience with school in Nigeria?

I would love to invite @etoro @promisezella and @imohmitch to take part