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Education is a fundamental human right: Every child is entitled to it and it is critical to the development as individuals and as societies, and it helps pave the way to a successful and productive future. And to ensure that children have access to a rights-based, quality education that is rooted in gender equality, creating a ripple effect of opportunity that impacts generations to come.
Education enhances lives. It ends generational cycles of poverty and disease and provides a foundation for sustainable development. A quality basic education better equips girls and boys with the knowledge and skills necessary to adopt healthy lifestyles, protect themselves from HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, and take an active role in social, economic and political decision-making as they transition to adolescence and adulthood. Educated adults are more likely to have fewer children, to be informed about appropriate child-rearing practices and to ensure that their children start school on time and are ready to learn.
In addition, a rights-based approach to education can address some of societies' deeply rooted inequalities. These inequalities condemn millions of children, particularly girls, to a life without quality education - and, therefore, to a life of missed opportunities.
Too many of the world's children are out of school or receive spotty, sub-par educations. Each one of these children has dreams that may never be fulfilled, potential that may never be realized. By ensuring that every child has access to quality learning, we lay the foundation for growth, transformation, innovation, opportunity and equality.
Whether in times of crisis or periods of peace, in cities or remote villages in realizing a fundamental, non-negotiable goal: quality education for all.
Pre-Primary Education
This is referred to as the education given to children aged three to five years prior to their entering primary school. This type of education is currently being provided for mainly in privately owned institutions. Day care centres also exist for children below the age of two. The pre-primary schools are mainly concentrated in urban and semi-urban areas where there are working mothers who have no relation nor house-helps to take care of their children.
Primary Education
This is education given normally to children aged between six and eleven years and above. Since the rest of the educational system is built upon it, the primary level is the key to the success or failure of the whole system.
The state and local governments have the constitutional responsibility for primary education but private sector, represented by individuals, communities, religious groups, and voluntary agencies are permitted to own and run primary schools. Private schools usually charge fees whilst public schools charge only a token amount for fees. Parents provide uniforms, text-books and other school materials in both private and public schools.
Management of Primary Education
The management of primary education has been entrusted to the National Primary Education Commission which has the following functions:
- Prescribe the minimum standards of primary education throughout Nigeria.
- Inquire into and advise Government on the funding of primary education in Nigeria.
- Manage the National Primary Education Fund as established by the Federal Government and allocate the funds to the appropriate body designated by each State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and to any agency responsible for Special Federal Government sponsored primary school project.
- Collate, after consultation with all the State Governments, periodic master plans for a balanced and co-ordinated development of primary education in Nigeria.
Special Education
Education of handicapped children was not considered an important investment until quite recently. In fact, the first school for handicapped children (excluding the gifted) was established by the missionaries in 1932. However, by 1974, Government has thought it fit to accord it due priority that it deserves. Since then each State of the Federation has been providing integration facilities for the handicapped in compliance with the Federal Government policy.
Special education is the educational treatment of children and adults who have learning difficulties because of various sorts of disabilities. As a result they are unable to cope with the normal school class organization and methods, without special supportive resources.
There are also the specially gifted and talented children who are intellectually precious and find themselves insufficiently challenged by the programmes of the normal schools, and who may take to behaviour problems in resistance to it. Government has directed that all exceptional children must be provided for under the National Policy on Education.
Secondary Education
Secondary education is the form of education children receive after primary education and before the tertiary stage. The broad aims of secondary education within our overall national objectives are preparation of students for useful living within the society and for higher education.
Government plans that secondary education should be of six year duration and be given in two stages, the junior secondary school (JSS) and the senior secondary school (SSS); each stage being of three year duration.
The junior secondary school is both pre-vocational and academic. It is tuition free in some states of the federation and the basic subjects are taught to enable pupils acquire further knowledge and develop skills.
Student who leave school at the junior high school stage may then go on to an apprenticeship system or some other scheme for out-of-school vocational training.
The senior secondary school is for those able and willing to have a complete six-year secondary education. It is comprehensive but has a core curriculum designed to broaden pupil's knowledge and outlook. The core curriculum is the group of subjects which every pupil must take in addition to his or her specialities. They are: English Language, Mathematics, one Nigerian Language, one of the following alternative subjects: Physics, Chemistry and Biology, one of the Literature in English, history and Geography, Agricultural Science Or a vocational subject.
The core subjects are basic subjects which will enable a student to offer arts or science in higher education.
CHILD PROTECTION
Child Protection refer to preventing and responding to violence, exploitation and abuse against children including commercial sexual exploitation, trafficking, child labour and harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation/cutting and child marriage. UNICEF's child protection programmes also target children who are uniquely vulnerable to these abuses; such as when living without parental care, in conflict with the law and in armed conflict. Violations of the child's right to protection take place in every country and are massive, under-recognized and under-reported barriers to child survival and development, in addition to being human rights violations. Children subjected to violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect are at risk of death, poor physical and mental health, HIV/AIDS infection, educational problems, displacement, homelessness, vagrancy and poor parenting skills later in life.
BUILDING A PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN
Building a protective environment for children that will help prevent and respond to violence, abuse and exploitation involves eight essential components: Strengthening government commitment and capacity to fulfil children's right to protection; promoting the establishment and enforcement of adequate legislation; addressing harmful attitudes, customs and practices; encouraging open discussion of child protection issues that includes media.
CHILD PROTECTION AGENCIES
- United Nation International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
- Child Right Act (CRT)
- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
- Immunization
