Quality and equity in Nigerian educational system: a panacea for economic empowerment, development strategy and social justice
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Date
2015
Authors
Uzoka, N.E.
Igwe, R.O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The International Academic Forum
Abstract
This paper relates to Education: Social Justice and Social Change. It examines the issues of quality and equity in Nigerian educational system and how it enhances national economic and development strategy that brings about social justice. The study sets out to identify the general problems and needs facing the country in the field of education that is hindering the realization of quality, equity and social justice. It further examines the accessibility and difference in the quality of education being offered in the urban and rural areas, and highlights the reasons behind the high level of repetition and drop-out rates in the rural schools. Four research questions and four hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A descriptive survey design was employed targeting all the principals and ministry of education officials in the four, out of the six geo-political zones in Nigeria (South-West, South-East, North-East, and North-Central). Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select one hundred (lOO) principals and twenty-five (25) ministries of education officials from each of the selected geo-political zone bringing the total number to five hundred (500) participants. Questionnaire and interview were used as instruments of data collection, while descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analyses. Some of the findings of the study revealed that there are differences in the quality of education and accessibility to education in the rural and urban areas. Most schools in the rural areas do not have adequate and qualified teachers. Moreover, there is apparent lack of infrastructure and educational resources. The study recommends, among others that there is need to offer quality education to every Nigerian child whether in the rural or urban areas and an educational system that is responsive to current national demands and conducive to sustainable development that will enhance social justice.
Description
The IAFOR International Conference on Education 2015
Dubai, UAE
Official Conference Proceedings
Keywords
Quality , Equity , Accessibility , Empowerment , Development strategy , Social justice , Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences::Education
Citation
Uzoka, N.E. & Igwe, R.O. (2015). Quality and equity in Nigerian educational system: a panacea for economic empowerment, development strategy and social justice. The IAFOR International Conference on Education, Dubai, 243-253.