| Home - Peace and Democratic Governance -- Economic Growth - Investing in People |
| SO16– Increased Demand for Quality Education and Training |  |
|
The Government of Nigeria has not provided nationwide access to quality basic education. The poor quality of education generates low demand and therefore low levels of student enrollment. As a result, levels of adult literacy are low, having actually declined in the 1990s, and academic performance is poor. Of the 30 million primary-school-aged children in Nigeria, 10 million are not enrolled in school. Of those currently in primary school, fewer than one third will join junior secondary schools and even fewer will proceed to senior secondary. While education indicators are poor nationwide, the greatest need for USAID assistance is in the predominantly Muslim North. Poor education contributes to the marginalization of Muslim communities in the North and to the potential for unrest in the region. The inclusion of Islamiyya schools in the education program constitutes a significant and essential element of the Mission’s emphasis on Muslim outreach and will abate the potential for further alienation. Currently operating in Nasarawa and Kano states in the North, the program will be extended to the additional northern states of Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi, Zamfara, Jigawa and Sokoto. |
|
| Nigeria’s
Universities are a destabilizing influence, hotbeds of organized cultism,
religious and political fundamentalism, and violent student unrest,
failing to prepare their students for either responsible citizenship
or gainful employment. Building on past experience with programs such
as ATLAS and AFGRAD, USAID is uniquely positioned to assist Amadu
Bello University, Usman Dan Fodio University, and the Universities of Port Harcourt and Benin to mitigate the destabilizing potential of hundreds of thousands of undereducated, unemployed and radicalized youth by fostering partnerships with U. S. universities, including historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The education funds available to the mission are small compared to the challenges in Nigeria. The potential for results, support from the government, and resources available through USAID’s Africa Education Initiative argue for Nigeria to be classified as a high priority country for education resources. While girls’ education, youth skill development, and education policy will be the focus of SO activities, the education team defines its strength in the synergies it develops with other SOs in the areas of health services, civic education, and employment generation. The SO team will implement successful grassroots programs which, through further USAID assistance, will inform education policies developed by the Federal Ministry of Education. The SO will directly support the transformational development framework goal of creating a better educated population in Nigeria. Working at the community level, the SO team will ensure access to basic educational materials, improve teaching techniques, and improve pupil performance in numeracy and literacy. Through these interventions, the SO will increase demand for education services. The SO will further the passage and implementation of policies and legislation and an education information system. At tertiary level, the SO will strengthen administrative capacity within local universities, reduce radicalism and student discontent, and build the next generation of Nigeria’s leaders. Program Components: • Achieve Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education • Improve Capacity of Higher Education to Contribute to Development • Improve Quality of Workforce Through Vocational/Technical Education Results: The SO will address USG priorities and long-term stability through its support to Islamiyya schools that incorporate the formal primary education curriculum, with an emphasis on literacy and numeracy, into Islamic teaching; and through the tertiary component, where efforts will focus on alleviating the sources of student unrest and instilling principles of leadership. By 2009, principal outcomes of the mission’s education program in target states and local government areas will include providing basic materials to 3.5 million students and training to 64,000 teachers in 5,600 schools. A total of 8 million students will also be reached through radio instruction. The SO will also mitigate the potential for unrest in the North through the delivery of improved basic education, and work with 21,000 University students and 150 administrators to improve the quality and relevance of tertiary education. Risk Factors: While Nigeria has made substantial progress in the reform of education-specific policy and improved the quality of education in selected schools, overall quality remains poor, leading to low levels of demand and creating large, destabilizing populations of disaffected out of school youth. Continued commitment to reform and a significant budget allocation for quality education delivery are necessary to increase demand, reduce unrest, and improve pupil achievement in Nigeria.
Last Updated on: March 05, 2009 |
|