International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume III, Issue XII, December 2019|ISSN 2454-6186

Restructuring School Education in Rural Nigeria:

Issues and Challenges
Abdulkarim Alhaji Isa1*, Mohammed Lawan Bashayi2, Shettima Alhaji Umar3, and Ahmad Babayo4
1
Lecturer, Department of General Studies, Mai Idriss Alooma Polytechnic, P. M. B. 1020, Geidam, Yobe State, Nigeria
2¬4
Lecturer, Department of Social Development, Mai Idriss Alooma Polytechnic, P. M. B. 1020, Geidam, Yobe State, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author

Abstract:- The poor state of the rural schools and their in every zone of the country. The common issues of rural
predicament accompanied by unfavourable government schools in Nigeria are inadequate number of teachers, teacher
education policies towards the rural area was the key factor that absenteeism and improper supervision of schools. The well
attract this research. Nigeria, as one of the largest economy qualified teachers mostly live in the city and they are scared of
among the African countries, is still a developing nation, this
moving to rural areas due to lack of infrastructural facilities.
indicates the need for reforms that will bring about technological
development. For Nigeria to become a developed nation there is a II. METHODOLOGY
need for improvement in the quality of education especially in
the rural areas where a large chunk of the Nigerian population The present paper is developed on the basis of secondary
resides. The schools in rural areas lack the necessary source data such as policy records, books and journals.
infrastructure, such as teaching aid, conducive atmosphere, Interview with key informants in the field of education sector
qualified teachers and other necessary needs for improving this has been conducted and observation method has been
sector. This made the residence of the rural areas feel neglected employed to elicit the conditions of rural education in Nigeria.
and consider education as waste of time. The present study
makes a cursory reading of the national policy on education and III. SCENARIO OF RURAL SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA
makes a comparison with what is actually happening in the rural
areas by making an interview with the stakeholders and The situation of rural schools in Nigeria is nothing to write
recommends an urgent need of special educational policy to be home about, from the side of the host communities seems to
formulated, the government should modify its policy on be not fully ready to accept the western schooling system,
education so as to improve education in rural areas. The colonial they prefer their local way of life. Some do not even have
system of education should be abandon or modify to suit the seats in the schools, while some buildings are even collapsing.
current need for technological development everywhere. In most times the effort of any government to improve this
Keywords: rural, areas, developing, nation, education, qualitative rural education sector become a mere paper work without
and policy. actual implementation. The objectives of current policies like
Universal Basic Education, National Policy on Education and
I. INTRODUCTION the Sustainable Development Goals are to improve the
situation of education system but the execution of these
E ducation in the rural Nigeria mostly is on the
disadvantage side because it is an activity carried outside
in the city or the possibly privileged area, all the stakeholders
policies seems to be in favour of urban areas.
IV. NIGERIAN POLICY ON EDUCATION
in the rural areas are facing one problem or the other, and
these include the structure, the job satisfaction, the The main aims and objectives of Nigeria’s education policy
background, and lack of maximum co-operation from student arising from the 1977, 1981 and 2004 editions are “the
and their parents. These and other factors bring about some inculcation of national consciousness and national unity, the
negative influence on the smooth running of system of inculcation of the right type of values and attitudes for the
education in rural areas. The Nigerian education system is survival of the individuals and the Nigeria society, the training
based on colonial education system. According to Imam of the mind in the understanding of the world around; and the
(2012), “over the years, it has been criticised for being too acquisition of appropriate skills, abilities and competences
theoretical to be able to make meaningful impact on the life of both mental and physical as equipment for the individual to
Nigerians. The subjects taught in various schools reflect the live in and contribute to the development of the society.
taste of the colonial education officials; thus, school curricula Preparation for useful living within the society and
were built around the existing colonial values. Students were preparation for higher education.”
supposed to mimic their teachers in subject like English Looking at the above aims and objectives in one hand, and
Language which involved demonstration of competency. The make a critical view on concept and position of education
same problem which informed dependency on past colonial today, one can conclude that there is a lot of homework to do
education relics seems to have continued till date.” The before achieving these aims. However, in the process all
present situation of schools in rural Nigeria is almost the same hands must be on deck, it is the responsibility of all. All the

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International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume III, Issue XII, December 2019|ISSN 2454-6186

stakeholders have to work hard towards achieving these  With 11.4 million pupils affected, Nigeria has the
objectives. These include; the pupils, the teachers, the highest drop-out children from schools in the world;
administrators, the parents and the government. Many  About 63 percent of children who live in rural areas
Nigerians have been complaining about the falling down of cannot read at all;
education generally, more especially in the rural areas where  There is inadequate teacher training and support;
they lack all the resources. And, to be specific the education in  There is near absence of reliable data to support
rural areas has some peculiar challenges that need to be education administration and planning;
address before getting the qualitative education for the rural  There is a lack of support for girl-child education.
communities.
VII. PROSPECTS OF RURAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA
V. CHALLENGES FACING EDUCATION IN RURAL
 Proper funding of the Ministry of Education to
AREAS
actualize its task
Whereas the problems of education in Nigeria is perceived to  Create well-articulated program for rural
be general, it is said to be more severe in the rural areas. development, which will reduce the variation in the
Anyaebu et al (2004) and Haruna (2015)“noted some of these administration and performance of rural development
challenges are lack of zeal and interest by teachers due to poor program in Nigeria
and delayed salary and poor condition of work, frequent strike  Provide adequate teaching staffs that are properly
action by teachers, lack of curricular and other materials such trained and certified
as textbooks, libraries, instructional materials and at times  Provide teaching aids for imparting the quality
classrooms, desk and chairs.” According to Dike (2004), education
“about 2000 (mostly primary) schools existing in the rural  Incorporate in curriculum our traditional education
areas in Nigeria are said to have no classrooms, lessons are which are the cardinal goals for development of the
received under trees or thatched houses.” It is observed that latent physical and intellectual skills
instability of the government institutions and infrastructure  Inculcating respect for elders and those in a position
that is transportation, communications, and utilities. Many of authority. Acquiring specific vocational training
primary schools in the rural areas are not even connected to and develop a healthy attitude towards honest labour,
the power supply grid and are therefore unable to take and understanding, appreciating and promoting the
advantage of new development in educational technologies. cultural heritage of the community at large
Low community participation in education planning and  Increasing state and local government commitment
policy implementation, poverty, corruption, cultural and participation
challenges, psychological challenges, socialization challenges,  Establish parent rural directorate to make the parent
insecurity and political crisis and poor implementation of conscious about education and encourage them to
plan. Due to this situation and personal reasons, many send their children to school
teachers reject posting into rural areas while those that do not,  Government should have political consciousness to
treat their presence in such areas as a part time assignment. deal with parent that does not send their children to
Yet, effectively educating the rural population that make up school
over 60% of the country is a necessary precondition for  Establish police force that will arrest the children of
national development. school age that are roaming around during school
hours and punish their parent accordingly
Anyeabu et al (2004) thus opined “rural education is key to
 The ministry will make collaboration with state so
rural development and an essential building block of national
that schools should be visited to make sure teachers
development; that poverty cannot be eradicated without
are discharging their duties (page 59 Special
eliminating illiteracy among the rural populace and without
education reform in Nigeria, prospect and challenge)
finding a systematic way to raise their level of knowledge.”
 Technical vocational education and training (TVET)
According to Olayide et al (cf. Fabunmi 2003), “there is the
should be made available in schools (Shirley,
general consensus that the rate of agricultural development
Chijioke, & Chukwumaijem, 2015).
and rural transformation is directly related to the educational
standard of the rural communities. Such rural education VIII. CONCLUSION
programme will widen the rural populace’s horizon and
It is found that the rural schools are in a poor condition. The
predispose them to greater receptivity of new ideas.” The need
academic performance of the rural schools is poor compared
thus arises for appropriate reforms and policies to address
to the urban schools. The government policies on education
pertinent issues affecting the development of our educational
towards rural educational development are inadequate in
system especially as it concerns education in the rural areas.
Nigeria. Government policies in improving the quality of
VI. PROGRESS OF RURAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA education in the rural areas has not been successful. The rural
schools face more challenges than schools in the urban centres
 About 25.3 million students at all levels of education
due to government biased policies that is skewed towards
are out of school in the country;

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International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume III, Issue XII, December 2019|ISSN 2454-6186

benefiting the urban centres. Rural students face more on all aspects of rural education should be designed by the
challenges compared to their urban counterparts due to government to improve the present condition of rural
unfavourable government policies against the rural areas. The education system in Nigeria.
teachers in the rural schools face more problems in the rural
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