INTRODUCTION
In one of the earlier units, we discussed the development of pre-primary education in Nigeria. We mentioned the various factors that have influenced the growth of pre- primary education in Nigeria. In this unit, we are going to discuss the various problems confronting pre - primary education in Nigeria and see how we can do away with such problems.OBJECTIVES
After studying this unit carefully, you should be able to:- identify five problems of pre-primary education in nigeria. · suggest ways of doing away with such problems.
Accessibility
Urban Centres
We have discussed how pre – primary education was introduced into Nigeria first through the Christian Missionaries. We also discussed how the pre-school establishment started in GRAs in urban centres with large concentration of foreigners. After some time, Nigerians who have travelled abroad and are now back home as well as those who are top civil servant started sending their children to pre- primary schools. I am sure you will remember what led to the expansion of pre-primary schools in Nigeria after independence and at the end of the Nigerian Civil War. For instance, after independence, there were new tertiary institutions such as the universities of Ibadan, Ife, Nsukka, Lagos and ABU. All these new universities had many foreigners and Nigerians who wanted pre-school education for their children. This in a way led to the increase in the number of pre-primary schools. Do not also forget that the rate of industrial development increased after independence. This also led to the coming of many foreigners and their families who needed pre- school educational institution for the children. After civil war in 1970, there was a higher rate of industrial activities with many Nigerian men and women securing good jobs. While the married working women needed places to keep their children, the men then had enough money to send their children to pre- primary schools.
As you have already learnt, the pre - primary schools were springing up mainly in the urban centres. Since the existing good ones were too few to take all those who were interested, many sub-standard pre- primary schools started to spring up. If you take time to go round some major cities in many parts of Nigeria today, you will see many of them in both completed and uncompleted residential buildings. We shall discuss this aspect of the problem later. The increase in the number of pre- primary schools should have been a thing of joy to all of us. However, as many as they are in the urban centres, many children of pre – school age still do not have access to such schools. In other words, the pre-school establishment is accessible only to families with incomes that are above average as a result of the high fees charged in the pre- primary schools. Many parents cannot afford to send their children.
As you have already learnt, the pre - primary schools were springing up mainly in the urban centres. Since the existing good ones were too few to take all those who were interested, many sub-standard pre- primary schools started to spring up. If you take time to go round some major cities in many parts of Nigeria today, you will see many of them in both completed and uncompleted residential buildings. We shall discuss this aspect of the problem later. The increase in the number of pre- primary schools should have been a thing of joy to all of us. However, as many as they are in the urban centres, many children of pre – school age still do not have access to such schools. In other words, the pre-school establishment is accessible only to families with incomes that are above average as a result of the high fees charged in the pre- primary schools. Many parents cannot afford to send their children.
This is why the larger percentage of pre – school aged children even in the urban centres cannot receive pre – school education. For example, in a survey of some Local Government Areas by UNICEF, it was discovered that only about 2.0 percent of pre- school age children were attending pre- school establishments. This means that about 98 percent of pre- school age children are not having access to pre – school education in those LGAS. This means that majority of Nigerian pre – school children are not having the necessary stimulation and encouragement which they need for their proper development. Unfortunately, these children who have no access 'to pre – primary school establishments are mainly from home environment that are not only stimulating but also not child friendly. Although, we do not have a statistical data that covers the whole country, yet we can say that there may not be much difference from what we have for those Local Government Areas and other areas.
In the UNICEF survey which we mentioned earlier on, only about 0.7 percent of normal children have access to pre- school education. That means 99.3 percent do not have access to pre-primary education. Since the majority of children in the rural areas have no access to pre- school education, we can say that majority of pre-school age children in Nigeria have no access to preschool education. This is based on the fact that the population of such children is greater in rural areas than in the urban areas. And by simple calculation it means that in the local government areas covered by UNICEF, only 2.0 + 0.7(i.e .2.7%) (for urban and rural areas ) children of pre- schools age attend pre-primary schools in Nigeria. This is not a good thing for us in Nigeria. If we consider the fact that majority of people living in the rural areas are poor illiterates who cannot provide the necessary stimulation and encouragement for their children, then the absence of pre-school education to the children who need it most is a very serious problem. The implication is that majority of the rural pre-school age children will have their rate of motivation retarded during this important formative period of their lives. Thus, their chances of achieving their potential are greatly reduced. Such children who lack the right opportunities at home for their development should be the first to receive, pre-school education as an intervention programme as it is meant to be in this current UBE programme.
In one of the units, we discussed the FGN/UNICEF Initiatives in bringing low – cost pre-school education to these less privileged children. We also discussed how some on – Governmental Organizations (NG0s) have been helping to make pre-school education accessible to many children. The problem is still there as such efforts are not actually reaching the majority of children who need such programmes.
Rural Areas
In our discussion of the development of pre-primary education, we said they started first in the urban centres. Even the post independence expansions concentrated in the urban areas only. This means that right from the beginning, the rural areas have never been included in the list of places that were to be covered. Why do you think this should be so? Well, the answer is simple. It is because the people establishing them want to have the schools in the urban. They believe that only people in the urban centres can pay their fees. The rural children are therefore deprived the opportunity of receiving the early stimulation and encouragement which their counterpart in urban centres are enjoying. That is not all. Even the very few pre- primary schools available in some of the urban areas are not accessible to majority of the children.In the UNICEF survey which we mentioned earlier on, only about 0.7 percent of normal children have access to pre- school education. That means 99.3 percent do not have access to pre-primary education. Since the majority of children in the rural areas have no access to pre- school education, we can say that majority of pre-school age children in Nigeria have no access to preschool education. This is based on the fact that the population of such children is greater in rural areas than in the urban areas. And by simple calculation it means that in the local government areas covered by UNICEF, only 2.0 + 0.7(i.e .2.7%) (for urban and rural areas ) children of pre- schools age attend pre-primary schools in Nigeria. This is not a good thing for us in Nigeria. If we consider the fact that majority of people living in the rural areas are poor illiterates who cannot provide the necessary stimulation and encouragement for their children, then the absence of pre-school education to the children who need it most is a very serious problem. The implication is that majority of the rural pre-school age children will have their rate of motivation retarded during this important formative period of their lives. Thus, their chances of achieving their potential are greatly reduced. Such children who lack the right opportunities at home for their development should be the first to receive, pre-school education as an intervention programme as it is meant to be in this current UBE programme.
In one of the units, we discussed the FGN/UNICEF Initiatives in bringing low – cost pre-school education to these less privileged children. We also discussed how some on – Governmental Organizations (NG0s) have been helping to make pre-school education accessible to many children. The problem is still there as such efforts are not actually reaching the majority of children who need such programmes.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
Why are many children in Nigeria not having access to pre-school education?
Your answer should include the following
Another alternative is for each local government council to establish at least a model pre-primary school which will be highly subsidized if it cannot be made free like the Oyo SPEB pre-primary schools. If the fees charged are limited, and affordable, many of the average parents may be encouraged to send their children there. If such model pre-primary schools are established, the staff should be professionally qualified to teach at the pre-primary level. Otherwise it will not produce the much needed stimulation and encouragement for the children.
The Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) should be further encouraged to established low-cost pre-primary schools particularly in the deprived areas. In our discussion earlier on, we discussed the activities of OMEP (Nigeria). We specifically mentioned the establishment of pre- primary schools near market places, and in the rural areas. Government as well as individuals, associations and communities can assist the NGO's with money and other materials. The NGOs have been doing a great work not only in Nigeria but throughout the world. Any assistance therefore could further make it possible for them to reach out to more areas where children have been deprived of many things including early childhood education.
When we were discussing the UBE programmes and early childhood education we mentioned that Government will seek the support of NGOs, parents and guardians, the community and voluntary organizations. In fact, one of the specific steps to be taken by government is to encourage the establishment of more early childhood centres and community-based pre-primary schools in collaborations with grass root organizations. All these are good steps towards making pre- primary education accessible to all pre -school age children.
However, there is still the need for proper awareness programme for all our people. There are many parents in both urban and rural areas who do not know the importance of pre-school education for their children. Without adequate information given to the masses on the good things their children can derive from the pre-school establishment, many parents would still be keeping their children at home. Therefore, all the means at the disposal of the government should be used to educate, inform and enlighten parents and guardians on the importance of pre-school education. Apart from using the radio and television, the officials of the information unit in the Ministry of Information, and the Local Government should be sent out to do village to village visit or campaigns and pass the information across. This is necessary otherwise, even if the pre-primary schools are free; many parents may not send their children.
Why are many children in Nigeria not having access to pre-school education?
Your answer should include the following
- The high fees charged in the schools
- Non availability of pre-school establishments in many of the rural areas
- Illiteracy and ignorance of some parents, etc.
Solution to the Problem of Access
In our discussion of the development of pre-primary education we mentioned the Oyo State Primary Education Board's Initiative. If you still remember, we said that Oyo (SPEB) started a programme of running pre-school education as a section of the public primary school, Although this experiment is limited to a few schools in the State , yet we could say it is a right step in the attempt to make pre-school education accessible to all children . In other words, one of the ways of making pre-school education accessible to majority of all pre-school age children in Nigeria is for State and Local Government to make pre-school education a section of the public primary schools as it is categorically stated in the National Policy on Education (FGN, 2004).Even if it will just be a few schools in each Local Government Area, it will go a long way in helping the poor parent to give their children pre-school education.Another alternative is for each local government council to establish at least a model pre-primary school which will be highly subsidized if it cannot be made free like the Oyo SPEB pre-primary schools. If the fees charged are limited, and affordable, many of the average parents may be encouraged to send their children there. If such model pre-primary schools are established, the staff should be professionally qualified to teach at the pre-primary level. Otherwise it will not produce the much needed stimulation and encouragement for the children.
The Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) should be further encouraged to established low-cost pre-primary schools particularly in the deprived areas. In our discussion earlier on, we discussed the activities of OMEP (Nigeria). We specifically mentioned the establishment of pre- primary schools near market places, and in the rural areas. Government as well as individuals, associations and communities can assist the NGO's with money and other materials. The NGOs have been doing a great work not only in Nigeria but throughout the world. Any assistance therefore could further make it possible for them to reach out to more areas where children have been deprived of many things including early childhood education.
When we were discussing the UBE programmes and early childhood education we mentioned that Government will seek the support of NGOs, parents and guardians, the community and voluntary organizations. In fact, one of the specific steps to be taken by government is to encourage the establishment of more early childhood centres and community-based pre-primary schools in collaborations with grass root organizations. All these are good steps towards making pre- primary education accessible to all pre -school age children.
However, there is still the need for proper awareness programme for all our people. There are many parents in both urban and rural areas who do not know the importance of pre-school education for their children. Without adequate information given to the masses on the good things their children can derive from the pre-school establishment, many parents would still be keeping their children at home. Therefore, all the means at the disposal of the government should be used to educate, inform and enlighten parents and guardians on the importance of pre-school education. Apart from using the radio and television, the officials of the information unit in the Ministry of Information, and the Local Government should be sent out to do village to village visit or campaigns and pass the information across. This is necessary otherwise, even if the pre-primary schools are free; many parents may not send their children.
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