Paper Status Tracking

Journals by Title

Journals by Subject

Contact us

	[email protected]
	3275638434

	Paper Publishing WeChat

Useful Links

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Article

Open Access

The Inconsistency of Nigeria’s Education System and Its Implication for Curriculum Implementation

Author(s)

Olayemi Aderokun Asaaju

Full-Text PDF Download XML 3304 Views

DOI:10.17265/1548-6591/2015.03.001

Affiliation(s)

Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The inconsistency of the education system in Nigeria in the last 50 years has brought the system into a state of confusion. The 6:5:2:3 system of education which was termed too “bookish” was replaced by the 6:3:3:4 system to accommodate vocational subjects especially for those students who may not be academically inclined; this no doubt was a reflection of the flexible nature of a good curriculum. Implementation of this latter system was a complete failure before it metamorphosed into the latest one—the 9:3:4. As the nation was trying to adjust to this new system, there is a new one, the 1:6:3:3:4 though not yet implemented. It has been observed however that these changes have not translated into quality education delivery in Nigeria public schools as it were, an indication that operational factors are defective. One of such factors identified in this paper is inadequate information and preparation of teachers who will implement the curriculum. Another factor is poor funding which has culminated in lack of basic infrastructure and instructional materials that can enhance teachers’ competence and students’ performance. Curriculum implementation as the pivot for the achievement of education goals deserves utmost priority. Teachers must be adequately informed and prepared through training and retraining to effectively interpret the curriculum because they will to a larger extent determine the way of the tide that blows the entire education structure. Education as an expensive enterprise must be well-funded by government, public schools adequately equipped with the requisite quality infrastructure, only then can the desired change be realized and the goals of education achieved.

KEYWORDS

education system, educational policy, curriculum implementation, inconsistency, operational factors

Cite this paper

Journal of US-China Public Administration, March 2015, Vol. 12, No. 3, 167-179

References

Adamu, A. U. (1994). Educational reforms in Nigeria. Retrieved from http://www.kanoononline.com/publications/educational_ reform_in_nigeria.htm

Adeyemi, M. A. (1995). Curriculum change and innovation: Impact on science curriculum projects. Lagos: Deutchetz Publishers.

Aghenta, J. A. (1984). Towards a systems approach to the planning of secondary education in Nigeria. In S. Adesina (Ed.), Secondary education in Nigeria (pp. 227-243). Ile-Ife: University of Ife Press.

Ajayi, K. (1983). An appraisal of the legal structure of education in Nigeria. Retrieved from www.unilorin.edu.ng/journals/ education/ije/feb1983/

Akindele, F., & Adegbite, W. (2005). The sociology and politics of English in Nigeria: An introduction. Ile-Ife: O.A.U. Press.

Asaaju, O. A. (2010). Improving the quality of teacher education for sustainable development. African Journal of Historical Sciences, 6(2), 23-36.

Asaaju, O. A. (2011). Appraising the quality of teachers in the provision of functional education needed for manpower development. African Journal of Social Research and Development, 3(2), 162-168.

Awuzie. (2010). ASUU blames government for poor performance in education. Retrieved from http://www.nigerianbestforum. com/generaltopics/?p=44553

Comments on the failure of education policies in Nigeria. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.thetimesofnigeria.com/ Article.aspx?id=3465

Duze, C. O. (2011). Falling standard in Nigeria education: Traceable to proper skills-acquisition in schools? Educational Research Journal, 2(1), 803-808. Retrieved from http://www.interesjournals.org/ER

Ekundayo, H. T. (2010). Administering secondary schools in Nigeria for quality output in the 21st century: The principals’ challenge. European Journal of Educational Studies, 2(3), 187-192.

Fafunwa, A. B. (1970). A history of higher education in Nigeria (1827-1969). Lagos: Macmillan.

Fafunwa, A. B. (1974). History of education in Nigeria. London: George Allen & Unwin.

Federal Ministry of Education (Nigeria). (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Nigerian_Federal_Ministry_of_Education

Federal Republic of Nigeria. (2004). National policy on education (4th ed.). Lagos: NERDC Press.

Gusau, B. U. (2008). Educational reforms in Nigeria: Successive years of inconsistencies and confusions. Retrieved from http://www.gamji.com/article6000/NEWS7831.htm

Moja, T. (2000). Nigeria education sector analysis: An analytical synthesis of performance and main issues. New York: World Bank Document.

Olawale, O. (2010, April 8). Challenges currently facing the education sector in Nigeria. The Fronteira Post. Retrieved from http://www.valuefronteira.com/index /post-format

Onyeachu, J. A. E. (2009). Implementation issues in secondary education curriculum in Nigeria: Problems and prospects. International Journal of Research Development, 1(4), 565-574.

Osokoya, I. O. (2003). 6-3-3-4 education in Nigeria: Strategies, issues and problems. Ibadan: Laurel Educational Publishers Ltd.

Suleiman, H. (2010). Effective policy implementation: A prerequisite for sustainable development. African Journal of Historical Sciences, 6(2), 280-286.

Ugodulunwa, C. A., & Mustapha, A. Y. (2006). Construct validation of a teacher effectiveness scale. Nigerian Journal of Professional Teachers, 1(4), 60-71.