The State Of Early Childhood Education And Development In Nigeria: Challenges And Prospects

 The state of early childhood education and development in Nigeria is a pressing concern that requires immediate attention and strategic planning. Despite its irrefutable importance, early childhood education in Nigeria is not seen as a key component of public education and national growth. Hence its gross negligence and abandonment by successive Nigerian Governments, both military and democratic regimes, has greatly threatened the nation's educational and socio-economic survival and development. According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), only 36% of Nigerian children are enrolled in early childhood education programmes (in a country of over 200 million people) with 3.7 million children enrolled in 33, 204 public Early Childhood Care Development and Education (ECCDE) centres, and 3. 5 million children enrolled in 48, 348 private ECCDE centres.  

The dearth of priority given to early childhood education in Nigeria has consequently led to inadequate funding and poor infrastructure. Many ECCDE centres have no basic facilities, such as classrooms, furniture, stationery, and outdoor play facilities to build and improve children's motor skills. This makes it very difficult for children to learn and develop in an environment that is not conducive and serene. Furthermore, many teachers in the ECCDE centres are not adequately trained, which can negatively impact on the quality of education provided to children. Limited access to ECCDE centres is another significant challenge, with many children in Nigeria not having access to these services due to crippling poverty, geographical location, and other legions of socio-economic factors. 

Despite these challenges, there are prospects for early childhood education in Nigeria. There is a growing awareness of the underlying importance of early childhood education, which could lead to increased funding and support. The private sector is playing a critical role in providing ECCDE in Nigeria, and this could be leveraged to improve access to quality education and development. The Nigerian Government has also initiated programmes aimed at improving ECCDE, such as the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

Globally, early childhood education is recognized as a critical foundation for future learning and development. In Finland, for example, early childhood education is a key component of the education system, with children starting school at the age of seven (7), but attending early childhood education and care centres from a young age. In Japan, early childhood education places a very strong emphasis on social and emotional development, with preschools encouraging children to develop social skills, such as cooperation and empathy. These examples demonstrate the indispensability of prioritizing early childhood education and provide a framework for Nigeria to improve its own ECCDE services. Here are some steps that the Federal Government of Nigeria can take to promote early childhood education and development in Nigeria:

1. Increase Funding:

Allocate more funds to early childhood education programmes to improve infrastructure, facilities, and resources.

2. Improve Teachers Training:

Many teachers in Nigeria are not well-trained. They are not qualified to teach the children. Providing teachers with quality training and professional development opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge on early childhood education is sine qua non.

3. Increase Access: 

Expand access to early childhood education, particularly in rural and disadvantaged areas, to ensure that all children have equal opportunity to benefit from these services irrespective of backgrounds.

4. Develop a National Framework:

Develop a national framework for early childhood education that clearly outlines standards, curriculum, and assessment procedures to ensure that consistency and quality are enshrined across different providers.

5. Encourage Parents Involvement; 

Encourage parents and caregivers to be involved in their children's early childhood education and development, providing them with resources and required support to help them do so.

6. Promote Community-Based Programmes:

Promote community-based programmes that provide early childhood education and care, particularly in areas where formal services are not available.

7. Improve Monitoring and Evaluation:

 Establish a system to monitor and evaluate the quality of early childhood education services, identifying areas for improvement and providing support to providers.

8. Foster Partnership:

Foster partnerships between Government, private sector, and civil society organizations to leverage resources, expertise, and funding to support early childhood education.

9. Develop Contextualized Curriculum:

Develop a curriculum that is contextualized to the Nigerian culture and  environment, promoting cultural relevance and effectiveness.

10. Provide Support for Children with Special Needs (Inclusivity):

Provide support and resources for children with special needs, ensuring that they have equal access to early childhood education and development opportunities. 

In conclusion, the state of early childhood education and development in Nigeria requires urgent attention and holistic planning to address the challenges and leverage their prospects. By prioritizing early childhood education and providing adequate funding, facilities, and trained teachers, Nigeria can improve the quality of education and development for her young children, enabling them to have success in future. As the world recognizes the importance of early childhood education, Nigeria can learn from examples across the world to create a brighter future for its children. Nigeria should take a cue from the Singaporean, South Korean, Japanese, Finnish, Danish, Swiss, US, and Canadian systems of education to undertake a full-orbed augmentation of her early childhood education and development. With the right approach, Nigeria can ensure that its young children receive the quality education and care they need to reach their full potential in life.

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