FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR NURSERY/PRIMARY EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION

1. 1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 

Education is the vital instrument for social and economic mobility at the personal level and an instrument for transformation of society at the national level. Ukeje (1976) defined education as a process a product and discipline. He maintained that, as a process education is responsible for both the transmission and transformation of the cultural heritage of a people; as a product, it can result in constructive and destructive tendencies and as a discipline, it is concerned with what to teach, how to teach, and the purpose of teaching. Education is a continuous process of learning which begins at birth and continues till death. Early years in life are widely accepted as the most important period during which children experience cognitive, language, perceptual, socio-emotional and motor development which they will need for future achievements and social functioning. This informs the reason why the periods of the early years need to be handled with all special and detailed attention. Estes (2004) has described the early years as a remarkable period of growth and development in the lives of children. In their submission, Oduolowu and Olowe (2011) noted that the early years of children are years of extreme vulnerability and tremendous potentials, during which adequate protection, care and stimulation are essential to provide the foundation for well-being and development. In providing this foundation during the early years, Early Childhood Education (ECE) becomes a key actor. Nursery/Primary education as the focus of this paper is the first level education. Apart from home as the first agent of socialization, primary school is the first place that introduces formal education or literacy to the children. In other words, Nursery/primary school education is a foundation upon which all other levels of education are built. There is no doubt that primary school system in Nigeria is facing serious problems despite this huge number of pupils it has to cater for. Not quite long, the Federal Military government vested the responsibility for primary school administration in the hand of local governments. This same government later reclaimed the responsibility when primary school system was about to collapse. These problems we are talking about culminate in acute shortage of infrastructures, non-payment of teachers’ salary and security problem. Some primary schools have no enough classrooms and furniture to the extent that classes are held under shades of trees, some pupils carry-home their benches and desks and bring them to school every morning. The instructional materials needed to aid teaching-learning activities are not available. The teachers also are no longer committed to their jobs because they are not well paid. It is obvious that unless these teachers are provided with the drive that would energize them or the tools needed, that is proper inputs, their best could not be tapped or attained and the accomplishment of educational goals would be difficult. For instance, a car without fuel could not move anywhere that is the reason educational sector experiences strike today and tomorrow. It is obvious that the Nigerian education sector is in dire need of help. The sector over the years has experienced continuous fall in standard and the negative effect is telling in every aspect of the country. The sector which is meant to be the hope of the country is no doubt struggling to survive. That a lot of things have gone wrong with the education sector is undeniable. Nigerian education which was one of the best in the world in time past is now being deserted by the rich and average citizens who prefer to send their children and wards to foreign countries for academic pursuit since our country cannot meet up with the global standard. The education sector is heading toward a total collapse and we must do everything within our capacity to make sure that doesn’t happen.

1. 1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The Nigerian school system is increasingly challenged with many complex problems. There is a general outcry that the standards of education are falling and morals flagging. Some blame pupils for this apparent decline in quality of education and moral values. A thoughtful few think that they are due to the nature of changes in all directions. Majority blame the teachers for the woes in our schools. They are not as devoted and dedicated to the cause of education as their predecessors. It will not be an overstatement to say that if there is any issue which borders, burdens and is most often debated among educational stake holders and generality of Nigerians today, it is the issue of declining quality of education. The problem of declining quality of education in the Nursery and primary education in Nigeria can be attributed to” Lack of Adequate Educational Inspection and Supervision: These are two joint major factors. The outcome of lack of adequate inspection and supervision are for example as a result of the following factors which contribute to the declining quality of Education: Lack of qualified teachers, instructional materials, library facilities, pupils’ attitude towards learning, adequate remuneration to teachers, parental responsibility, misplaced priority and corruption or lack of integrity among some educational stake holders. Therefore there is urgent need for Nigeria to minimize illiteracy, ignorance unemployment and poverty as well as stimulate and accelerate the pace of national development, political consciousness and national integration for efficient and effective attainment of Nigeria’s vision. Does the primary education have any impact on the vision’s attainment? The study therefore investigated the factors responsible for poor Nursery/Primary education in Nigeria.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY      

The major purpose of this study is to examine the factors responsible for poor Nursery/Primary education in Nigeria. Other general objectives of the study are:

1. To examine the standard of primary/nursery education in Nigeria
2. To examine whether the qualification of teachers are suitable for primary education in Nigeria
3. To examine if adequate funding and facilities are made available in Nursery and Primary schools in Nigeria
4. To examine the influence of this factors on the pupils academic achievement
5. To examine challenges that are militating against the important of early education in pre-primary schools and Primary schools
6. To examine some practical ways to overcome the challenges of poor Nursery and Primary education in Nigeria

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION

1. How is the standard of primary/nursery education in Nigeria?
2. Is the qualification of teachers suitable for primary education in Nigeria?
3. Is adequate funding and facilities made available in Nursery and Primary schools in Nigeria?
4. How does this factors influence the pupil’s academic achievement?
5. What are the challenges that are militating against the important of early education in pre-primary schools and Primary schools?
6. What are the ways to overcome the challenges of poor Nursery and Primary education in Nigeria?

1.5 STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS 

H0: Inadequate funding and facilities in Nursery/Primary school has no effect on pupil’s academic achievement.

H1: Inadequate funding and facilities in Nursery/Primary school has a significant effect on pupil’s academic achievement.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 

The essence of any research endeavour is an addition to the academic satisfaction, to find solution to the numerous problems confronting man in his attempt to actualize himself in the context of the society. There are a lot of factors that stimulate critical and creative thinking in learners which is an important cornerstone of the nursery/primary school philosophy. The research will be of help to the younger generation researchers who wish to conduct similar research in the field. It will served as a material to curriculum planners, educational policy makers, writers of different subject textbook and teachers of different subjects in various nursery/primary schools. The findings of this research work would be used to encourage the government and school management to effective management of nursery/primary school. Also, the findings of the research study would be used to enlighten the school management of the need to enlighten the school management of the need to provide in-service training and learning process. Finally, this research will be useful to government as findings of this studies as well as recommendations could be used by the ministry of education as frame work to organize seminars and workshop to train Nursery/primary school teachers on how to teach effectively.

1.7    SCOPE OF THE STUDY 

The study is based on factors responsible for poor Nursery/Primary education in Nigeria.

1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Education:  The wealth of knowledge acquired by an individual after studying particular subject matters or experiencing life lessons that provide an understanding of something. Education requires instruction of some sort from an individual or composed literature.

Primary Education: Refers to the waivers of all forms of contributions to education by parents in primary schools.

UBE: Universal Basic Education, this is a basic education meant for learners over a nine- year formal education.