Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Tola Olujuwon,
Otto/Ijanikin,Lagos.Nigeria
Email: cenduserve@yahoo.com
Abstract
practices perpetrated by the stakeholders. There has been a clarion call by all and sundry
to re-examine and appraise the Nigerian Educational system in line with current trends.
This paper will examine some of the issues highlighted above and proffer transformative
Introduction
Formal education in Nigeria was under the control of Christian missionaries control for
nearly forty years (1842-18881). They administered and formulated educational policies.
The Church Missionary Society was credited to be the first to open a training institution
in Abeokuta in 1895. The institute was later moved to Oyo in 1869 and later became St
Andrew’s College, Oyo. Other training institutions followed like the Hope Waddel
Institute Calabar in 1861, the Baptist Training Centre, 1897 at Ogbomoso, St Paul’s
Training Centre Awka 1904, Oron Training Institute, 1905 etc these were institutions
established by the missionaries for the training of teachers Abdullahi, (1990) cited in
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Olujuwon (2004). These institutes provided the much-needed leadership in the
theology and religion.The country manpower needs cannot be met, led to the intervention
1882,1887,1904,1926 and then the Ashby omission of 1962 which recommended the
establishment of regional universities in the country in Lagos, Ibadan, Ife and Zaria.
These are first generational universities .As at the moment the country has more than 75
Universities under the control of the federal and State governments and private
5...Tranformative Education
The various efforts of the missionary and the colonial government towards the early
(2) Professional standards and appropriate curricular for training of teachers were set
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(3) Education of the youth was no longer limited to the Southern part of Nigeria. In
(2) Much emphasis was placed on book and examination to the detriment
(3) There was no uniformity in their system of education for a long time.
(5) Emphasis was place on certificate for most white collar jobs while
The general dissatisfaction with the existing educational system which had become
irrelevant to national needs, aspirations and goals led to the National curriculum
conference of 1969 where Nigerians from all walks of life debated their own aims and
3
The final document of this expression came into existence in 1977 as the National Policy
on Education (but reviewed in 1981, 1989 and 2004) education was conceived as an
The policy derives its philosophy from the five main national goals, which are:
The policy which consists of 13 sections and takes care of the various types/ sections and
issues critical to the education sector: The major highlights of the policy are as stated
below.
i) The education structure is 6-3-3-4, that is, six years of primary education, three
citizenship training right from primary level. The intention is to equip the
children whose education will terminate at the primary level with knowledge of
general studies as well as, social and civic skills, which they will sue to function
iii) The education system is supposed to be job oriented. This is why the junior
secondary school (JSS) curriculum contains only integrated studies and pre-
vocational courses. The goal is that at the end of the JSS course, students will
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branch out, depending on their ability, interest and academic performance into
arts/science/social science academic subjects. The products of the JSS can also
advance into the Grade II teachers’ colleges for professional studies in education.
iv) The policy provides that the system be given a scientific and technological
orientation by insisting that a sound basis for scientific and reflective thinking be
laid right from the primary level. It also provides that admission into tertiary
institutions in the country should be based on the ratio of 60 per cent for science
vi) Guidance counseling services are to be provided at all levels of the educational
system
vii) Lifelong education will be the basis for the nation’s educational policies
viii) Each child is expected to learn at least one of the three major indigenous
languages (Yoruba” Hausa, Igbo) in addition to child’s own mother tongue in the
(NCE) has been declared as the minimum teaching qualification in the Nigerian
schools.
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x) Effort will be made to relate education to overall community needs. Towards this
their organizations for the promotion of the sandwich, block release or day
release of training.
xii) Government’s ultimate objective is to make education free at all levels. The
In spite of the optimism in this policy and the success recorded in the early educational
attainment in the country, it would not be out of place to ask, where have we missed the
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The inconsistencies in government policy can be seen from the academic calendar, which
was initially from January to December and later changed form October to June. In
addition the educational system was changed from 6-5-2-3 to 6-3-3-4 but there is a
proposal to change it into 9-3-3-4 or so. Moreover the Higher School Certificate (HSc)
program that was discarded sometimes ago is now being proposed without any research
Bursary for Teachers, Teachers salary scale, the full introduction of Information and
technology and vocational education and giving it its pride of place etc.
excellence for achieving National development. In spite of its strength, Ajiboso, (1988),
Gbamanja, (1983), Odewunmi, 1987 cited in Odewunmi, (1997) have picked holes in the
document, which has made a gap in the implementation of the policy impossible. This is
due to the incongruous position of the Colleges of Education in the policy on education
and non- relevance of some courses in the colleges of Education. They (the above
researchers) opined that some courses offered in the colleges of Education in non- JSS
subjects as stipulated in the policy are not necessary, so the policy must be followed. In
addition, the standard of the NCE certificate must be raised and that NCE graduates must
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Historical and contemporary realities
The UNESCO Lagos office in 1998 remarked in its report On the State of Education in
Nigeria, that the Nigerian University system between 1948 and 1973, was elitist in the
sense of creaming, say the top five percent of graduates’ commitment to scholarship was
high. Universities offered overseas training for non-doctoral degree holders. Great
scholars and teachers from top overseas institutions were part of the teaching pool in
Nigerian universities, polytechnic and Colleges of Education The welfare scheme for
teachers was attractive and facilities, such as books, were available to support the
teaching. Also karani, (1997) cited in the same report affirms that in terms of quantity
and quantity, the research output of tertiary institutions in Nigeria was about the best in
The Universities of Ibadan and Ahmadu Bello for example earned global recognition for
That made El-Rufai (2006) to assert that the government of the 70s in the country
focused then on developing the economy, building refineries, roads, steel rolling mills,
and funding researches in the universities. The country per capita income is placed
among the League of Nations with enormous potentials as compared to present realities
where two third of the population is struggling to survive on less than one dollar a day.
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The sparkling reputation of universities became a thing of the past under successive
rate and more universities were established and government interference in University
affairs became more rampant. We have cases were Vice Chancellors and military sole
administrators were appointed by the government. The university powers were eroded;
incentives and rewards for research, teaching excellence and associated innovation
gradually disappeared leading to brain drain, low research output and quality,
management structures rigidified. Between 1990 and 1997 real value of government
allocations to universities decline by 27% and enrolment grew by 97%. Hartnet 2000
cited in Saint et al (2003). As observed by Oni 2000 cited by Saint et al(2003) the
downward pressure on staff salaries together with deteriorating working conditions and
political repression on campus, generated a series of staff and student strikes during the
19990s culminating in year-long closures of the university system in 1992 and 1996, even
primary and secondary schools teachers were not left out from months strikes. In
addition, the number of scientific publications in 1995 was 711-significantly less than its
university system in contrast; scientific publications were 3,413 for South Africa, 14,883
for India, 310 for Indonesia and 5,440 for Brazil. (TASK FORCE 2000 cited in Saint et
al (2003).
The factors responsible for the poor quality in the tertiary sector appeared to be internal
and external. Internal factors include strikes, lack of employee motivation and weak
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shortages, corruption, and inconsistent funding efforts by government and admissions
based on quotas rather than merit. Oni 2000 cited in Saint et all (2003).
The country continued to suffer educationally and various woes started beguiling the
country as identified by EL-Rufai (2006): declining morale, flight of talent, poor, ill-
equipped libraries, and the open and shut syndrome, the scepter of violence and cultism,
explosion of student enrolment and a self triggering explosion of the value system. In the
Thisday Newspaper report of 3rd April 2006, in which the Nigerian President, Olusegun
Obasanjo has expressed concern over the high rate of illiteracy in the country, describing
it as unacceptable. The President noted with regret the country literacy’s level, which he
puts at 41. %. 62.5 of the nation’s literate population are male, while girls account for
about 62% of the 7.2 million children of primary school age still not in school.
In the same vein, former Minister of Education, Prof. Aliu B. Fafunwa has lamented the
comatose state of the nation’s educational system and urges the federal government to be
more committed to uplitment of the sector to enhance manpower development for a better
tomorrow. He noted that majority of about 5,000 public Secondary schools in the country
lack library facilities and adequate supply of guidance personnel among others. The
In a recent study of secondary education in four states in Nigeria, Enugu, Kaduna, Lagos
There are shortfalls in the supply of secondary school teachers in all the four
States studied
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Even ‘soft-option’ subjects (religious studies, commerce, etc) are characterised by
The same can be said for mother tongue languages (Hausa in Kaduna, Igbo in
deprived subjects
Lagos, perhaps the most economically endowed of the four States, also has the
The table below sums it up of the demographic shortage of teachers in the system.
Igbo Commerce
English History
Language
PH/Health
Ed.
Introductory
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Technology
Biology Science
Chemistry Hausa
Agric. Science
P/health Ed.
Christian
Religious
Studies
LAGOS Arabic Agric. Social Studies
Music Science
English
Language
Yoruba
French
Bible
Knowledge
Home
Economics
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Business
Studies
Integrated
Science
Mathematics
Introductory
Technology
RIVERS Economics PH/Health Mathematics Music
Business English
Examination malpractice as a form of corruption and corrupt practices has crept into the
fabrics of all levels of the educational enterprise in the country In defining Examination
malpractices attempts have been made by experts to define it from various perspectives.
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Olayinka (1993) that examination malpractices are a ‘misconduct or improper practice in
any examination with a view to obtaining good results through fraudulent action”.
in or outside the examination hall before, during or after such examinations. This view is
Ahmed (1993) believed that an Examination malpractice is ”any act of wrong doing or
neglect that contravenes the rules of acceptable practices before, during and after an
Shonekan (1993) sees it as “irregularities, which are premeditated and perpetuated by the
candidates or their agents with the intention of gaining undue advantages in the
examinations.
introduction of formal system of Education (Afigbo 1993). The first major incidence of
Examinations malpractices was in 1914, when the Senior Cambridge local examinations
leaked. This scenario took an unprecedented surge in 1963 when two public examinations
of 1967, 1977, 1981 and 1987 leaked. These leakages then attracted the attention of the
miscellaneous decree 20 of 1984 to curb Examination Malpractices, and the latter decree
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These and other measures put in place still do not deter people from engaging in
where involved in Examination malpractices while 35,479 were reported in 1922. Thus
the number of offenders and related offences resulting in cancellation of results is quite
disheartening.
Investigations conducted by the National Concord of Tuesday June 1998 revealed how
examination and the changing of incorrect answers afterwards. This trend according to
the report is being used by the schools involved to improve their position in the
performance tables, which have become a key indicator for parents choosing a school for
their children.
In view of the adverse effects that examination malpractices have on the educational
malpractices occur, what are their impacts on the students themselves and on educational
standards?
(a) Over crowding in the school for example, a ratio of 1 teacher to 85 – 100 pupils
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(b) Inadequate qualified teachers
(c) Inadequate teaching and learning facilities, which made students ill-equipped for
the examinations
(d) Parental contributions for example, some parents pay for live papers, and hire
confidence on the part of teachers and students, high enrolment fees, the desire to
malpractice.
(a) Constant closure of schools, inadequate proper tutelage and poor teaching style,
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Researchers have shown that examination malpractices take difference forms. The
following list is not exhaustive, but the major ones being identified by Ogunu (1992)
Ivowi (1993) Imogie (1993) Denga and Denga (1998) are as follows:
Missiles (14) Microchips (15) Hi-tech Micro computer (16)Networking (17) Refusals to
According to researches carried out by Aina (1993), Mahmoud (1993), and Bunza
malpractices.
(a) Parents / Guardians who buy “Live’ papers or bribe examiners or invigilators
(b) Teachers/Head Teachers – Those who collect money and turn a blind eye.
(c) Lazy students who do not take their studies seriously and still want to get the
best score, the examiner who set and mark the papers, the printer of the questions
papers, officials of the examining body who process questions paper, supervise
staffing, Law enforcement agents, Society due to its guest for materialism
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(d) Government officials, Institutions – use of our crowded hall and inadequate
will be recalled that in 2005 the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board cancelled
remarked “it is unfortunate that the board is being forced to withhold many results this
year because of the large scale irregularities and malpractice discovered during the
processing of the results, all of which took place at the centres during the course of the
examination. This is quite unhealthy for the education sector. The Guardian 28th July
2005).
Transformative Education
Transformation is a multifaceted concept and does not have a precise definition and
means so many things to so many people. Vera 1999 cited In Obikeze (2003) sees
transformation as the process through which change is initiated within existing forms and
novel ideas, and ways of seeing the world, with the purpose of enriching that which has
been “inherited’. Transformation is necessary to open up new vistas and to bring each
person and each society into the wider horizon to a fast changing world. He believes
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within transformation, most cultures will become mere museum pieces, as they will be
denied enrichment, dynamism of the capacity to adapt to changing times. Obanya (2004)
That is why transformation entails creating something new or different through the
In the context of this paper, transformation education is refocusing and re-energizing the
educational system which will bring about quality research, governance and
administration and above all, aligning with individuals’ needs, aspirations and goals
That is why Nwagwu (203) has suggested the following as critical areas of reform in
1) Quality of primary school leavers, class size and leaver – student Ratio
While Adalemo (2004) believes that critical reforms should be in the area of diversifying
the sources of finding in our schools, review of the role of some institutions and the
curricular and above all research must be accorded its highest priority.
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The goals of tertiary education as enshrined in the National Policy on Education, 2004
(a) contribute to national development through high level relevant manpower training
(b) develop and inculcate proper values for the survival of the individual and society
(c) develop the intellectual capability of individuals to understand and appreciate their
(d) acquire both physical and intellectual skills which will enable individuals to be self
The policy states further that tertiary education institutions shall pursue these goals
(a) Teaching (b) research and development. (c ) virile staff development programmes, (d)
(f) access to training funds such as those provided by the industrial training funds (ITF)
(j) Dedicated services to the community through extra mural and extension services.
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As can be seen above, the guiding philosophy of tertiary education is commitment to
knowledge, and knowledge has four dimensions, which constitute the four university
functions namely.
Knowledge production i.e. discovery and extension, this is achieved through research and
(a) Knowledge interactions and training – this is achieved through formal teaching and
function, very often ignored or at best subsumed under teaching and research is
harnessing and galvanizing all intellectual and scientific forces of inquiry and
3) The enterprising university model. Ability to create own wealth and endowment to
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4) Visionary and transparent leadership. This is the process of assembling, positioning,
Those that will man the leadership of our tertiary institutions should be men and
women of good character, transparent, honest with high moral and professional
adhered to
on incorporating new courses based on the dynamism of the society and the needs
2) The recruitment and retention of high quality staff in appropriate numbers and mix.
allowed to sit for examination and students should be allowed to rate their lecturer
available to the public or companies, this will provide an alternative funding to the
schools
5) There must be commitment to change as Obanya (2004) observes that one way to
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6) There must be learning competencies in which the learner is able to organize and
regulate his own learning, to use time efficiently, to solve problems, to plan, carry
out, evaluate and reflect and acquire new skills and knowledge. NUC (2004)
provide an enabling environment for teaching and learning for Nigerian Education
to have its pride of play in the commity of nations; all stakeholders must contribute
1. The Government must as a matter of priority stop paying lip service to the full
the case of the 49 Academic staff sacked by the University of Ilorin, in which the
Court had asked for their reinstatement and which the federal Government and the
2. Staff salaries and fringe benefits must be paid as when do, so as to reduce corruption
3. All stakeholders within the educational system must uphold the sanctity of
4. The government must make teaching to be lucrative by employing and retaining the
best brains and fill the shortfalls in teacher supply in our schools.
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5. Institutions must periodically review educational system and present it to the policy
5. In rethinking educational change the table below should serve as a model in ensuring
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Table 1: A Model for rethinking Educational change.
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3.Management 3.1 decentralizations/devolution of powers down to the grass root level
framework 3.2 empowerment and autonomy for operators all down the line
4. Curriculum 4.1 responsive to societal and individual needs Full-fledged societal support
4.2 comprehensiveness: courage of the three (the head, the hands, and Permanent, unqualified
conditions
Force 5.2 adequately educated and professionally prepared Teachers fully devoted to continuous
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6. Infrastructure 6.1 Quantitatively, aesthetically and spaciously adequate A self regenerating educational system
8.2 Targetting funds to those things that will really make a difference
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29
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