INTRODUCTION
Education is the process of transmitting knowledge and skill and making sound judgment. A future filled with nourishing thoughts that will hatch into ambitions to achieve growth and development may be created using education as a tool to mould the mind and the future. Over the years, little attention has been devoted to education in Nigeria. Nigeria still has a long way to go to provide the nation with high-quality education, as seen by the annual budget. An education that will equip its students to compete and help find answers to humanity’s problems.
Regarding funding for the educational sector, the country has not yet reached the 26% of the yearly budget that the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) recommend for developing countries. However, less than 10% of Nigeria’s budget is allocated to the education sector. For instance, 6.7% of the federal budget was spent on public education in 2016. The allocation for education increased each year after, reaching 7.38% of the N7.29 trillion budget in 2017. According to statistics, the budget allocation has decreased during the subsequent four years.
WHY HAS NIGERIA’S BUDGET ALLOCATION TO EDUCATION NOT ACCELERATED?
We paid more attention to the less significant issues than the more significant ones. We must distinguish between the want and the necessity to stay focused and understand what our country needs to advance. Want lack and necessity to The three main economic sectors in any country are those related to national security, education, and health. If one of the three sectors is mismanaged or ignored, the other two will be negatively impacted. Any nation that disregards the education sector would see its progress stagnant. The quality of education in the nation is declining.
Adequate financing is required for our public schools and higher education institutions. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU) has often been striking to primary advance one of its main goals. To encourage the federal government to invest in the field, to create a learning environment conducive to learning in the 21st century, where education is the most prized resource that will give the nation many chances.
Due to a lack of educational infrastructure and a growing population, institutions are forced to admit students to maintain academic activities.
When you examine the architecture of our institutions, you will see that it was created only to hold a small number of people in each class. The previous generation received a higher standard of education than the new generation. Therefore, the lack of instruments, particularly in skill development and technology sectors, is leading to wrong national statistics.
THE ESSENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO NIGERIA’S EDUCATION
The country needs visionary leaders. Nigeria can only taste quality education if we have proactive leaders who value education and those who are prepared to forego their comfort to serve the people and foster an environment of innovation and change for humanity.
The educational curriculum should be skill acquisition based. Our school curriculum should prepare students with valuable skills relevant to them in the future and must be competency-based. This will shape their minds and inculcate in students the skills needed to tackle challenges and provide solutions to problems they might encounter.
Investment should be made in the education sector. Each citizen will access quality education, including materials and resources that promote teaching and learning. This will build a new generation of creative minds who will utilize their knowledge and help create a society of their dream.
CONCLUSION
Education is the passport for every individual to a bright future and must be given utmost attention and investment. It creates a generation of minds that can solve problems, fostering development in our society.
