What are the various educational opportunities in Nigeria? Would you like to know the various educational systems available for Nigerians and other international students aiming to study in Nigeria?
While many still prefer to have an online-based education experience, there is also a need to be acquitted with the traditional school system in the country.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Nigeria is a very large country with an estimated population of 225,082,083 as of the year 2022. It is regarded as the most populated country in Africa.
Many states across the 36 states in Nigeria have created opportunities for free education but most recent research still shows that are still many uneducated Nigerians.
At the early stage, every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to basic education, most importantly the nursery, primary and secondary education. Where an individual isn’t opportune to pass through any of this at that stage, there is also an option to join the adult school.
The system of education in Nigeria is quite interesting, education is administered by the federal, state, and local governments. The federal ministry of education is responsible for the overall policy formation and ensuring quality control but is primarily involved with tertiary education.
In determining the level of the educational system of a country factors to consider includes digital literacy, interpersonal skills, and the ability to think critically and creatively.
In this article, we will look at the level of educational development Nigeria had in the past, the educational opportunities in Nigeria today, and the future of education in the country.
Level of Educational Development in the Past
Many years ago in Nigeria, there were very few secondary grammar schools. In the North, there were only junior secondary schools called middle schools. Primary schools also were not many.
Because of this, most parents could not send their children to these schools. Rather they kept them on the farms to supply them with cheap labor. In those colonial days, long before the universities and more secondary schools were established, educational opportunities for the brilliant children and those whose parents were rich were very limited.
Some of the fortunate boys and girls from wealthy families had to be sent to Great Britain and the United States while many ambitious and courageous young men went on their own on scholarships to European and American countries from West Africa for university and technical education.
Primary and Secondary Educational Opportunities
Today, there are ample primary and secondary educational opportunities for the children of the poor and the rich alike, though wealthy people can give better education to their children.
In 1955 free primary education was introduced into Western Nigeria and the government has since then been spending heavy sums of money on this form of public education which has especially benefited the children of the poor people.
In the East and Mid-West, education is partially free while in some western states and southern parts, it is entirely free. There are several hundreds of children benefiting from the scheme.
Also, secondary schools are ubiquitous these days. Nearly every village has one. The good ones among the schools are grant-aided by the government and for this reason, they are better equipped and staffed than those that are self-supporting.
Since many years ago, voluntary agencies have been encouraged to open secondary schools though it appears that the schools are now too many in view of the fact that a high standard of education is not maintained and jobs cannot be easily found for their products.
A number of private and public comprehensive secondary schools too are springing up in Nigeria. These schools meet the basic, commercial and technical needs of the country, but they are very costly to build and maintain.
Technical and Commercial Educational Opportunities
In the past, little attention was given to technical education in Nigeria, but today there are private and government technical schools and colleges all over the country where boys and girls are taught engineering, veterinary science, electronics, surveying, carpentry, forestry, agriculture, plumbing, metal sheeting, printing, and many others.
There are also commercial schools and colleges where the students learn important subjects like stenography, book-keeping, accountancy, business management, salesmanship, commerce, economics, banking, office organization, and journalism.
Before now, young men and women had to go overseas for these courses now available at home. Also with the help of technology in education, all these are becoming easier now.
Post-secondary school scholarships are also awarded to brilliant boys and girls by the government and local authorities.
University Post-Graduate Educational Opportunities
We have many rapidly growing universities today in Nigeria. These offer various degree courses in fields such as engineering, sociology, agriculture, economics, statistics, mathematics, history, geography, and political science.
Also, home economics, botany, zoology, medicine, geology, chemistry, physics, philosophy, divinity, journalism, education, accountancy, business administration, public administration, English Literature, architecture, Latin, French, and German.
Post-graduate opportunities for studies are also available in some of the subjects at home, and young men and women are free to go abroad on government scholarship or on their own for post-graduate studies.
When they return they can find suitable places on the teaching staff of our universities, in the civil service, commerce, and industry where their knowledge can be most useful.
Educational Opportunities for Private Studies
Private students preparing for the London University G.C.E. at ordinary and advanced levels, London R.S.A., banking diploma, secretaryship, and accountancy examinations now have more facilities than their counterparts twenty years ago.
Even ambitious young men these days read for B.A., L.L.B., and B.Sc. degrees of London University as external students. There are facilities for private tuition and suitable books are available in most leading bookshops.
Many of the institutions also give part-time admission to private law students in the evening. Also, extramural classes of the universities are held in various centers all over Nigeria.
The Future of Educational Opportunities in Nigeria
In the future, there will be more educational facilities and opportunities in Nigeria for everybody. Schools of drama, music, and fashion will be found in suitable places.
All the courses not available at present will then be available and there will be no need for our young men and women to migrate abroad in thousands every year for higher education.
Conclusion
There are many ways to get involved with the various educational opportunities in Nigeria. Some people choose to go to school, while others prefer to learn from their peers or through other means.
However you view it, education is important because it helps us develop our skills and knowledge. The more we learn, the better prepared we become for the future.
If you want to have a degree in Nigeria, you will have to pass the various stages required for it. For citizens in Nigeria, they have to start first with the nursery, primary and secondary school stages before applying to the university of their choice.
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