Nigerian law requires compulsory education for all students between the ages of 6 and 15. Students in primary and secondary school attend three equally divided sessions from January through December, with about a month vacation between sessions.
In 1982, Nigeria switched to the American system of six primary, three junior secondary, and three senior secondary school grades, but the rigid examination system remained. To qualify for entry into Junior Secondary School (JSS), Senior Secondary School (SSS), and higher education, nationwide examinations are held each year. Because exam scores determine a student's future educational choices, schools tend to stress memorization of facts, rather than creative problem solving. There are not enough senior secondary schools in Nigeria, so most students who finish JSS go into the workforce.
Certain federal and state agencies plan and carry out special education programs. Teachers receive training to teach in these programs. Mostly, though, the government encourages integration of special education students into the regular schools. The Ministry of Social Development, Youth, and Sports also runs centers throughout the nation to help train people with special needs.
There are three major categories of higher or tertiary education. One is postsecondary, which is non-university level training in technical and vocational fields. Students receive certificates of training for completing work-oriented courses. The second type of higher education institution consists of higher technical, but non-university level programs offered at technical colleges, polytechnics, and colleges of education. They usually offer a variety of options for students that lead to a National Diploma (ND) for two years of study or a Higher National Diploma (HND) for four years of study. The third type of tertiary institution is the degree-granting institution offering bachelor's and higher degrees.
About two-thirds of the universities are federally owned, and a majority of the others are state-owned. There are 13 federally owned and 14 state-owned polytechnic colleges. Unlike primary and secondary schools, the institutions of higher education normally follow a 15-week semester system, running from October to mid-July.
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about 1 month ago
Sir Charles Olatunbosun Falase.
It is pretty shameful and not impressive at the level at which Nigeria is being rated globally. Despite the natural wealth it posses, which could be tranformed to national development and generall advancement, it is so shameful how the leaders siphon and embezzle at every opportunity, using various schemes in enriching themselves at expense of the masses. This is so ridiculous!!! Arise Africa! Arise Nigeria!!! Nigeria posses all the leadership qualities and resources but are not using it positively. We need a change for success. We need a change and breakthrough. We need to take care of our people. We need quality education and poverty eradication. We need to make best use of our resources for national development and global representation. O God please Help!
9 months ago
Sterling Nsikanson Nsikanson ((at)) yahoo dot com
Nigeria-Educational System is not producing the desired results, in other words, the standard of education in country is facing downward trend; this is as a result of corruption in Nigeria. For instance, teachers go without salaries for months, in order to put food on the table for their families, they have to resort to petty trading to earn a living. Funds meant to provide facilities for schools are embezzled by senior Hierarchies in federal and state education ministries. Though policy makers in the educational sector have enunciated sound educational policy yet it has not translated into reality. The educational system in Nigeria has produced semi-Literate, that is the reason wealthy parents in Nigeria send their children to school in Ghana or Europe. All the institutions in Nigeria are in deep mess, so you can't get anything good out of them.
11 months ago
b.o.daniel-oghenetega bodanieloghenetega ((at)) yahoo dot com
I find the material here very usefulful for a reachwork and writing of article on Nigeria Educational System.Be dispose to including more useful information. Thank you.