Nigeria’s education crisis may be bigger than the number of children who are out of school. For the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), another major concern is whether those who complete their education have the skills needed to earn a living and contribute productively to the economy.
NESG has called for reforms across what it describes as the education and skills pipeline, from foundational learning through tertiary education, skills development and entry into the labour market.
The organisation argues that educational success should not be measured mainly by the number of certificates people obtain, but also by whether learners leave school with practical, technical, digital and soft skills that match the needs of employers and the wider economy.
For many Nigerian families, the challenge becomes clearer after graduation. Parents and students may spend years paying school fees, transportation, textbooks and accommodation, only for graduates to discover that obtaining a certificate does not automatically guarantee employable skills or decent work.
NESG’s research also points to problems that can begin much earlier in a child’s education. Weak literacy and numeracy at the foundational level can make it more difficult for young people to acquire advanced technical, digital and vocational skills later in life. These gaps can eventually contribute to low productivity, skills shortages and difficulties for employers seeking qualified workers.
The issue, therefore, goes beyond building more universities or increasing enrolment.
NESG has highlighted the need for stronger connections between educational institutions and industry, greater emphasis on practical and vocational training, improved digital skills and better pathways linking education to entrepreneurship and employment.
The concern is not only about a child who never gets the opportunity to attend school.
It is also about what happens to a student who spends years in classrooms, earns a certificate and still enters the labour market without the practical skills needed to earn an income.
For Nigeria, the challenge is increasingly about closing the gap between learning and earning.
ALSO READ:FCT Police Probe Mystery After Man’s Body Found Along Kubwa Expressway
Hope you find the Above publication useful, Calabargist will love to keep you updated via our newsletter by subscribing with your email.
