In Nigeria, education plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the country’s youth. Public schooling has historically been the most popular route, but in recent years, the pursuit of private education has become more popular, primarily as a result of the decay in the public school system. But with the current state of the economy, a lot of parents are finding it difficult to meet the costs associated with keeping their children or wards in private schools. This has led to a widespread withdrawal of students from private schools, with many children being required to either sit at home where they are homeschooled, or forced to re-enroll in government schools.
This article explores the key differences, advantages, and challenges between public school education and home education in Nigeria.
Public schools in Nigeria are state-funded institutions that follow the national curriculum and are regulated by the government. They cater to the majority of Nigerian students, particularly from low- and middle-income families. They are mostly accessible to families with limited financial resources. Since they are government-subsidized, tuition fees are generally lower or nonexistent.
Public schools follow a rigid curriculum mandated by the Federal Ministry of Education, ensuring students receive consistent instruction across the country. This includes subjects like Mathematics, English, Science, and Civic Education. Therefore, there’s little room for extracurricular activities, sports, vocational exercises, excursions, and fun events.
Attending public school exposes students to a diverse social environment. They learn to interact with peers from various socio-economic backgrounds, creating an avenue for learning questionable behaviors and traits. Public schools in Nigeria often suffer from overcrowding, with student-to-teacher ratios sometimes exceeding 60:1. This can limit the amount of individualized attention each student receives and reduce the overall quality of education. Many public schools lack basic infrastructure, including adequate classroom facilities, textbooks, and laboratory equipment. This makes it challenging for teachers to deliver quality education. Teachers are often underpaid, which can affect their motivation and the quality of teaching. It is however important to note that the quality of public schools can vary significantly across regions. Urban public schools tend to perform better than their rural counterparts, where resources are scarcer and teacher shortages more pronounced.
Home Education on the other hand is less common, but has now sadly become a viable alternative for parents who cannot bear the risk of exposing their children to the ills of public school education. In this model, parents or hired tutors take on the responsibility of teaching children at home or anywhere outside the formal school environment. Homeschooling allows for a flexible and personalized approach to education. Parents or tutors can tailor the curriculum to suit their child’s learning style, interests, and pace, offering a more individualized education than public schools. There are also no concerns over bullying, peer pressure, and other social issues, thereby providing a safer, controlled environment for children. It also allows for more time spent on academic subjects without the distractions common in public schools, such as overcrowded classrooms and frequent disruptions. Parents who homeschool are not bound by the national curriculum and can incorporate global education standards or specialized subjects like arts, music, or religious studies that might be underrepresented in public schools.
One of the major challenges of this type of education is social Isolation. Homeschooling tends to limit socialization opportunities for children. They may miss out on developing friendships, teamwork, and conflict-resolution skills that come from interacting with peers in a public school setting. Homeschooling also requires significant time, effort, and resources from parents. Many parents may find it challenging to balance their own careers with the demands of educating their children at home. Since it is not widely regulated, there is no formal accreditation system. This can create challenges when students seek to transition to tertiary institutions, as they may not have recognized qualifications. Extracurricular activities are limited. Homeschoolers may not have easy access to extracurricular activities such as sports, music, and art programs that are commonly available in public schools. However, some homeschooling families address this by joining homeschooling networks or private clubs.
Both public school education and home education have their merits and challenges in the Nigerian context. Private school education still remains the most popular option as it offers a more tailored, flexible approach but is often more expensive and demanding for parents. They also provide access to extracurricular activities such as sports, music, and clubs. These activities help students develop skills beyond academics, such as teamwork and leadership. Ultimately, the choice depends on each family’s income level, budget needs, preferences, and resources
As Nigeria continues to evolve, it is essential that policymakers address the challenges of education while also considering frameworks to regulate and support families who opt for any of these alternatives. All the systems, if properly supported, can contribute to the nation’s educational advancement.
