Causative factors in the decreasing quality of education — a “root cause” notion
The system is one thing; the quality and standards, in relation to economic growth, is another.
The 6-3-3-4 system of education in the country is the same as most in other countries of the world. But the impact of outcomes shows that the system is one thing, whilst the quality and standards — in relation to economic growth — is another.
At the minimum, every learner who passes through this system should develop the foundational skills, knowledge and understanding required for daily social interaction — including negotiation and value-generation skills: the ability to understand contexts and points of view, question opinions and propose alternative ideas, and express thought clearly and persuasively.
The resultant effect of learners receiving education within a poor equity profile means that health, gender issues, wealth distribution and nutrition are directly proportional to education and high-quality standards. Where education is threatened on this basis, there is a recurring cycle of challenges that ultimately put the country's economy and national development at risk.
Nigeria's equity profile — child labour, early marriage, female genital mutilation, attitudes toward domestic violence (per UNICEF's MICS 2007, MICS 2011 and DHS 2013 studies) — presents a real challenge. Emotional and physical abuse in a learner's immediate environment instantly limits their ability to meet the requirements for social interaction in an intellectually and technologically aware society. Yet plans built on the 6-3-3-4 system rarely take these issues into account.
Assuming the premise is fitting, there is a proposition to revise the content and strategies for knowledge delivery laid out in curricula and schemes — in a way that supports the advancements of a digital age. Doing so defines and sets new standards that first address the development of intellectually and socially advanced global learners, and then progressively aim to raise the country's equity profile.