A renowned educationist, Mrs. Yetunde Kamson, has urgently called for a transformative overhaul of Nigeria’s education system.
In an interview with journalists, Mrs Kamson discussed the current strength of education and areas needing significant improvement.
She drew inspiration from successful education reforms in countries like Finland and South Korea, where innovative approaches to teaching, robust teacher training programs, and equitable resource distribution have led to significant improvements in educational outcomes.
The Abuja-based educationist highlighted that Nigeria’s education sector is marked by a growing emphasis on its importance, various educational opportunities, and a vibrant community of educators and learners.
According to her, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited access to quality education in rural areas, inconsistent policies, teacher training and development issues still need to be addressed.
Speaking on the pressing challenges educators and students face, Mrs. Kamson pointed to inadequate funding, overcrowded classrooms, insufficient resources, and a stark disparity in educational quality between urban and rural areas.
She also underscored the high number of out-of-school children, teacher recruitment and retention difficulties as critical issues.
Continuing, Kamson emphasised that technology holds immense potential to revolutionise learning across Nigeria, advocating for better technology integration through access to online resources, digital literacy promotion, personalised learning experiences, and improved communication between stakeholders.
“For technology to be truly transformative, there must be substantial investment in infrastructure, educator training, and digital tool incorporation within the curriculum,” she stated.
The educationist pointed out the need for robust initiatives and reforms to address the disparities in educational access across different regions.
Her words, “These initiatives are not just a local concern, but also align with the global commitment to education as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG4 which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030”.
She called for improved rural educational infrastructure, enhanced teacher training programmes, increased investment, equitable resource distribution, and inclusive policies, noting that community engagement is also vital for bridging the educational opportunity gap.
While outlining the roles of various sectors in improving education, she said, “The government should focus on funding, policy development, regulation, and maintaining quality standards. The private sector could contribute through partnerships, investments in educational technology, and support for skills development initiatives. Civil society organisations can advocate for reforms, provide community-based solutions, and promote transparency and accountability.”
She further stated that promoting gender equality and inclusivity in education is another crucial area, calling for practical strategies, which include implementing gender-sensitive policies, increasing access for girls, supporting female educators, addressing cultural barriers, raising gender issue awareness, and fostering a safe learning environment for all students.
In her opinion, Nigeria can ensure that all students have equal opportunities to succeed by prioritising gender equality.
In a related development, Mrs Kamson stressed the importance of vocational and technical education in Nigeria’s educational landscape.
“This form of education provides practical skills, prepares students for the workforce, and encourages entrepreneurship and innovation. To enhance its prominence, vocational education should be integrated into the mainstream curriculum, training opportunities expanded, industry partnerships strengthened, and its value widely recognised,” she emphasised.
She added, “Through united and determined efforts from the government, private sector, and civil society, and by addressing these critical issues, Nigeria has the potential to overcome its educational challenges and create a brighter future for its learners.
