Nigeria is situated on the Gulf of Guinea in Africa and is home to many natural reserves and resources, including diverse wildlife. Home to Zuma Rock, a 0.7km tall monolithic rock that features on the currency of the country, Nigeria borders Niger in the north and Chad towards the northeast. Other countries sharing borders with Nigeria are Cameroon and Benin. Formally, becoming an independent federation in 1960, the country faced civil war and other hardships, till it achieved a stable form of democracy in 1999. Currently, Nigeria has a population of just over 200 million, but of those, it is estimated that millions (around 30% of the total population) are illiterate which highlights the need for professional education in Nigeria.
Reasons why the education system is lacking
One of the prime reasons holding Nigeria back from development has been the political instability it has faced ever since its formal independence. With several civil wars and military rules lasting for several years, these events as well as indirect-rule by the British pre-independence have left Nigeria with a lot of work to do. Progress is tough to achieve in this African nation, and one specific facet is the improvement of the education system in the country. In this context, professional education in Nigeria seems key to accelerating the nation’s education development.
The Education System in Nigeria
Nigeria’s current education system follows a 1-6-3-3-4 format. These are 1 year of pre-primary, followed by 6 years of primary, then 3 years each of junior and senior secondary. Lastly, there are 4 years of higher education, usually achievable in universities or colleges.
However, due to infrastructure problems, neglect as well as a poor use of resources, this system has not been able to make a strong impact with regards to educating as many citizens as possible.
Another problem is that many young students are unable to qualify to study in public universities or afford the extremely expensive education offered by private universities. For these reasons, the country is in dire need of developers of professional education in Nigeria to plan and execute policies.
Developers of Professional Education in Nigeria
A prime example of where the whole system fares better is when those who have actual experience planning and making policies affecting professional education in Nigeria have been at the post of Minister of Education. In the past, this post has sometimes been given out as a political favour rather than based on the person’s merits.
Additionally, while the UN recommends between 15 and 26% of a nation’s budget be spent on education, Nigeria currently lags behind with only 7% being allotted to the country’s education. With help from developers of professional education in Nigeria, more funds can be made available to expand the scope of tertiary education. Not only this, but the better usage of existing funding can also boost the success of professional education in Nigeria.
Without Robust Professional Education in Nigeria, What Options Remain?
While the situation will improve slowly with time and better planning, students seeking professional education in Nigeria have the option of international study. Sharda University is located in Noida near New Delhi in India, with a large and well-appointed campus. Student and cultural activities, as well as on-site accommodation, are some of the benefits available to international students at Sharda University.
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