THE CHALLENGES AFFECTING THE STANDARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

When the issue of challenges affecting the standard of secondary education in Nigeria is raised, the first set of through that comes to mind are decline in standard, deterioration of facilities, examination malpractice, mass promotion syndrome and the likes before any other thing else.    

This calls for an in depth study and analysis aimed at tutoring each and every stakeholders in education system on how their actions and inaction have individually and collectively contributed to the collapsing state of secondary education in Nigeria.

First, let examine the meaning of education. Education is derived from two Latin words: ‘Educare’ and “Educere” the first meaning “to bring out” or “to lead out” and the second meaning “to bring up” ‘to raise’ or elevate.

According to Whitehead (2002) defined Education as “The process of transmitting the culture of a society from one generation to the other, the process by which the older members of a society bring up the young ones.

Thus: to successfully confront the challenges affecting the standard of education in a developed country like Nigeria, there must be invest in technologies to facilitate both acquisition and absorption of knowledge.

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

This research is to make critical investigation on the challenges affecting the standard of secondary education in Nigeria. A case study of some selected secondary schools. In Odeda Local Government, Area, Ogun State.

The meaning of education can not be over emphasized most especially in Nigeria schools. Therefore Education according to Castles (2003) “Is what happens to a man from the day he was born until the day he dies.

Meanwhile Websler (2006) defines education as a process of educating or teaching to develop the knowledge, skill and character of students.

Also according to Oxford Dictionary the 7 seventy edition define education as a process of teaching, training and learning especially in schools or colleges to improve knowledge and develop skills.

There are different forms of education that exist in the human society. The most obvious one is the public education. The society offers the free public education to its citizens and citizens required to take proper education in order to become vital members of the society. 

By these definitions of education, in relation to the state of challenges affecting the standard of secondary schools education in Nigeria as well as attitudes of investors. One with interest will be compelled to ask such questions as what as actually gone wrong considering the enormity of its effect on the output from system in the area of productivity and the degree of acceptance in labour market and educational institutions, especially outside the country.

However the militating factors stemming from the incidence of examination malpractice, poor facilities, indiscriminate mass promotion syndrome in schools. The causes of these could e traced to government insensitivity to education needs, government and private institutions open encouragement to low productivity and the lack of the spirit of hard work among growing number of students.

Tracing back from 1970s we discover that Nigeria standard of education is encouraging to the society even the country at large compare to standard of secondary education now.

Challenges in the society always take the form of problems that need to be solved. The difference in education opportunities as well as the nature and allocation of education provision in relation to the needs and aspirations of society has generally been identified by development economist as constituting one of the main factors which account for the development gap between the rich and poor countries.

Education inculcates knowledge and skills, which raise productivity and provide escape route from poverty. It is no wonder therefore, that most of the stable democracies in the world today are found in those countries that treat education and health as vital components of growth and development.

The central focus of this study is an assessment of challenges affecting the standard of secondary school education. From the specific standpoint of its place in the various poverty reduction efforts of the government as well as making suggestions on how the education sub-section can be repacked to impact positively on the living standards of the masses of the Nigerian people.

In order for the standard of secondary education to improve, government has to be sensitive to education needs and the students should be encouraged to work hard by employing qualified teachers.

Our perception of education will include training received from within four walls of the schools and ones received from other agencies.

1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The importance of education could be seen by evaluating the goals and aspiration of the society.

For instance, it has been noticed that the major factor affecting the standard of secondary education in Nigeria are:

-   Government insensitivity to educational need i.e Lack of necessary materials like Test books, lecture rooms e.t.c

-    Lack of the spirit of hard-work among growing number of student

-    Indiscriminate mass promotion syndrome in schools.

-    Examination malpractice e.t.c

Despite the fact that most of the schools lack learning facilities and a complete set of teachers. All these lead to the fall in the standard of secondary school education in Nigeria.

1.3  PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study is base on challenges affecting the standard of secondary education in Nigeria. A case study of some selected secondary schools in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State. This project will focus on some challenges affecting the standard of secondary education in Nigeria.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION

The following are fundamental questions this research intends to find out

i.  What are the attitudes of the senior secondary school student to the teaching and learning in school?

ii. What are those parental attitudes that can influence teaching and learning in secondary schools?

iii. What are the contribution of government towards the standard of secondary education

iv.  Can the standard of education in Nigeria improve?

1.5  RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

For the purpose of this study, the following hypothesis are formulated.

Ha1: There should be effective teaching and learning among the secondary school student in order to achieve standard education.

Ha2: Qualified and experience teachers should be provided to enhance learning.

1.6  SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study aims at investigating the challenges affecting the standard of secondary education in Nigeria. A case study of some selected senior Secondary Schools in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State and solution to the identified problems.

It is more not possible for the researcher to cover the whole schools, but 10 schools be examined i.e. Salawu Abiola Secondary School, Asero High School, Nawaru-Deen High School, F.C.E Model Secondary, Alagbagba Comprehensive High Secondary School e.t.c was selected based on limitation.

1.7  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The outcome of this research work will be of great importance to the students, staff, parents and other people in the community of Odeda Local Government Area, by providing the best solution to the identified problems. This research work will also help the secondary school Administrators to know the challenges affecting the standard of secondary education in Nigeria.

Furthermore, the study also will help government to know their weak point and the necessary adjustment to the identified problems.

1.8  LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This research study is limited to some selected secondary schools in Odeda Local Government Abeokuta, Ogun State. This is because of the constraints that were encountered. The main constraint was that the materials used for the researcher to get.

Also variable such as teachers attitude, parents attitude were used to carryout the research work.

1.9       DEFINITION OF TERMS

Challenges: A new or difficult task that tests somebody’s ability and skills.

Standard: A level of quality especially one that people think is acceptable.

Stakeholder: A person or company that is involved in a particular organization, project or system e.t.c especially because they have invested money in it.

Deteriorate: For something to become worse.

Secondary: Teaching children within the age of 11-18years

Affect: To produce a change in somebody or something

Constraints: Means strict control of one’s behaviour or something that si very difficultly