Activity 2.1 - NIGERIA GOVERNMENT’S PRIORITIES FOR EDUCATION – Oluwafunmilayo Olalusi

Nigeria Government priorities for Education are spelt out in the Policies on Education and Legal Mandate. These include: (i) National Policy on Gender in Basic Education  (2006) which ensures  equal access to basic education with focus on the vulnerable children (especially girls), at the basic education level, (ii) National Policy for Integrated Early Childhood Development (IECD) in Nigeria (2007) which universalizes and integrate interventions on early childhood, (iii) National School-Based Management Policy (NSBMP, 2016) which ensures accountability at the school level, and (v) National Policy on Inclusive Education in Nigeria (2016) which removes any forms of discrimination in access.

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES TO ENSURE INCLUSIVE SYSTEM

The National Policy on Education is implemented alongside other State Education Laws and policies. For instance, the School-Based Management Committee is empowered by the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act (2004) to penalize parents who do not send their children to schools and arrest school age children who are roaming about or hawking during school hours.

IMPACT OF THE POLICIES AND WHAT ELSE COULD BE DONE

The implementation of the UBE Act (2004) resulted in increased enrolment at the basic education level. However, the institutional arrangements and structures in the education system are characterised by conflicting and /or overlapping functions. For greater policies impact, there is therefore, the need to clarify which Education agencies are responsible for providing which services.