Problems of secondary education in Nigeria

Secondary education is education children receive after primary education and before the tertiary stage i.e.it serves as the recruitment grounds for the tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Secondary education in Nigeria came into existence 1859 when the CMS Grammar School Lagos was opened, followed by Methodist High School Lagos and Kings College Lagos being the first Government Secondary school was established in 1927.

Secondary Education has contributed immensely to the educational development in Nigeria and manpower needs of the nation. However, there are problems confronting secondary education in Nigeria which needs to be looked into for quick and lasting solution.

Rising spate of cultism and ritualistic acts among youths

Due to the decadence in the society today, there’s been a rising level of cultism and ritualistic acts amongst youths all in a bid to get rich quick. At Grait we have made regular inspection and counselling of your children our top priority to prevent negativity from breeding in their minds.

Overpopulation

Overpopulation in this regard means too few schools for the population in urban and rural areas. Schools in the city centers have a population that ranges between 2000 and 4000 making the administration quite a cumbersome task.

This number of students has resulted in overcrowded classrooms, but at Grait international schools we limit the number of students in each class as this enables the teachers monitor each student personally and effectively. This has helped also to reduce the workload on teachers giving room for effective teaching, curbed truancy among students and criminal tendencies such as exam malpractices.

Inadequate development of technical education

Inadequate promotion of technical education has denied many students the opportunity of self-development and consequently, decent living. And this is because nearly all technical workshops built in the 80s are dilapidated and new ones are not built. The aspect of wood-work, metal-work, textile, technical drawing, arts, and crafts deserved being accorded greater prominence in our educational system.

At Grait international schools we have given sports greater prominence. The teaching of Physical and Health Education as a subject is fast becoming unrealistic with the absence of necessary sports items with which to teach meaningfully.

Administrative problems

Ineffective monitoring of the implementation of educational policy is a major problem facing secondary education in Nigeria. Administrative problems are fully curbed to avoid unequal treatments and distribution of facilities and equipment to departments within our school.

Inadequate teaching equipment

We don’t go sharing equipment with nearby schools when our students are to take an examination in any subject field. Some other schools either have sparsely equipped laboratories or none at all. This has resulted in poor examination performance.

Inadequate number of teaching and non-teaching staff

In most of the secondary schools, there are less than the 50% of the teachers required in the schools while at Grait we have backup teachers among our staff. And this has resulted in an intense ability of teachers to maintain the necessary personal contact with every child in his work. Furthermore, Grait students are given the opportunity of developing in what would be their chosen area of interest and teachers of such subjects are available for students.

Poor electricity supply

The classrooms, laboratories, equipment in schools, etc. needs electrification. And the epileptic power supply in the country is contributing to the reasons many schools don’t use these equipment to aid their students’ learning. We have extensive supplementary supply from our plants.

Solutions to the problems of secondary education

In order to solve the problems of education in Nigeria, the solutions listed below must be looked into and implemented.

Establishment of more schools

Many of the schools that are overpopulated with students should be decongested so as to give room for effective teaching and learning

Provision of furniture

The Federal and State Ministry of Education should review the design of desks and benches for pupils and teachers with greater attention given to the improved quality of materials for their production and the suitability of dimensions, shape, and style that will facilitate good sitting posture for reading and writing.

Provision of adequate instructional materials and if possible the government should subsidize costs of said materials.

1. The government should arrange for the adequate supply of science equipment and teaching aids to schools
2. Development of well-stocked library in each public school.
3. Provision of modern teaching audio-visual aids
4. Parents should be encouraged to show interest in the education of their wards by providing necessary material support for effective teaching in schools.

The supervision of schools should be strengthened

Regular supervision is the most potent motivational force that keeps workers more focused, consistent and steadily improving on their job. At Grait international schools we welcome state and federal inspectors to our schools occasionally and they are usually pleased with the facilities we have on ground.

A system of motivating teachers is installed at Grait.

1. The government should endeavor to recruit more qualified teachers to restore greater effectiveness in teaching and learning
2. The government should consider a rural teaching allowance as an incentive to reduce rural-urban drift in the teaching work force.
3. Residential quarters can be provided for the teachers in rural areas to encourage them to live in the village
4. At Grait we give incentives to our teachers is one of the great ways to motivate them

Professional Education and Training

The best teachers never stop learning. The professional teacher is one who is up-to-date with current educational thoughts and practices. Therefore, seminars should be organized on regular basis to review: