Policy Year: 2013

The national policy on education (NPE) is the national guideline for the effective administration,
management and implementation of education at all tiers of government. The national policy on
education therefore, is a statement of intentions, expectations, goals, prescriptions, standards and
requirements for quality education delivery in Nigerian. This 2013 NPE edition was prepare to
update the 2007 edition and in the process, accommodate the recent developments in the context
of the Transformation Agenda and the ensuing strategy plans in education.

Aims of National Policy on Education in Nigeria

The following below are the aims and objectives of the national policy on education in Nigeria:

1. The national policy on education in Nigeria is aimed at building a free and democratic
society.
2. It is also aimed at building a united, strong and self-reliant nation.
3. It also helps to build a great and dynamic economy for the country.
4. The national policy on education aims at building a land full of bright opportunities
for all citizens..
5. It is aimed at building a just and egalitarian society.

Objectives of National Policy on Education in Nigeria

The following below are the specific and general objectives of the national policy on education
in Nigeria:

1. Modern education techniques shall be increasingly used to improve all the levels of
the educational system.
2. Universal basic education shall be provided in a variety of forms for all citizens in the
country.
3. Education shall continue to be highly rated in national development plan of the
country.
4. The basis of the nation’s educational policy shall be lifelong education.
 5. Education and training facilities shall continue to be expanded in response to social
needs and made progressively accessible to all individuals to be afforded a more
diversified and flexible choice.
6. Educational activities would be centered on the student for maximum self-
development and self-fulfillment.
7. Physical and health education shall be emphasized at all levels of the education
system.
8. Educational evaluation shall be liberalized by being based in part on continuous
assessment of the progress of the student/individual.
9. Education would be made accessible and affordable to all citizens in the country.
10. The national educational system shall be structured to develop the practice of self-
learning. Government shall in this regard continue to encourage the establishment of
Young Readers Clubs in schools.
11. Opportunity shall continue to be made for religious instruction; no child will be forced
to accept any religious instruction which is contrary to the wishes of his or her parents.
12. At any stage of the education process after junior secondary education, an individual
shall be able to choose between continuing full-time studies, combining work with
study, or embarking on full-time employment work with study, or embarking on full-
time employment without excluding prospect of resuming studies later on.
13. Efforts shall be made to relate education to overall community needs.

Challenges of National Policy on Education in Nigeria

The following below are the challenges of national policy on education in Nigeria:

1. Corruption
This is one of the major challenges associated with the implementation of the national policy on
education in Nigeria as funds provided for the educational sector is grossly mismanaged by those
in charge of utilizing the funds for proper and effective management of the educational system.

2. Poor Funding for Education

The state of the educational system in Nigeria is deplorable and this is due to lack of proper
funding by the government. The national policy on education in Nigeria would suffer hiccups
because of the poor funding of the educational sector which would result to poor outcome in the
nation’s development.

3. Poor Management
The educational sector in Nigeria is poorly managed which has resulted to the fallen standard in
the level of education in the country. The national policy on education cannot be actualized as
there is lack of proper management for educational system in the country.

4. Poorly paid Educational Workers

This is yet another challenge of the national policy on education in Nigeria as poorly paid
educational workers lack enthusiasm and full commitment to work which would in return affect
the education sector in the country.

5. Poor Infrastructure
A place that is not fit for learning would result to a bad outcome and this is applicable to the
educational sector in Nigeria as most institutions of learning are in bad condition students are
condemned to such ill conditions which can badly affect them.

The Nigeria education system is structured into:

 Early Child Care and Development aged 0-4 years

 Basic Education aged 5-15 years, it encompasses Pre- primary 1 year, 6 years of primary
Education and 3 years of Junior Secondary Education;
 Post-Basic Education of 3 years in Senior Secondary Schools and Technical Colleges;
and
 Tertiary Education provided in Colleges of Education, Monothechnics, Polytechnics, and
the Universities.

Success of the NPE 2013

A good education institution is one in which every student feels welcomed and cared for, where
a safe and stimulating learning environment exists, where a wide range of learning experiences
are offered, and where good physical infrastructure and appropriate resources conducive to
learning are available to all students. Free learning was incorporated in almost all the public
schools and provision of textbooks to aid studying. This can be said to be the success of the 2013
national policy on education.

The timeline of the policy was set to covers 2013-2020, to be fully developed and competing
with the international standards

Strategy of NPE 2013

This policy formation ensures that he prospective and inputs of the three tiers of government,
development partners and all other stakeholders are, as much possible, accommodated and
infused. It is therefore expected that the National Policy on Education will be publicly owned,
internalized and compiled with by all. To leverage this expectation, federal, state/FCT and local
governments shall establish and adequately empower Special Policy Implementation Monitoring
Units within the appropriate existing structures in their Ministries of Education and Local
Government Education Authorities and diligently monitor and provide necessary feedback on
compliance.

Performance of the Policy

 Conclusion
Education is very important and cannot be ignored as it is the foundation in which a nation can
attain development. The national policy on education is meant to ensure that the educational
system is properly managed but due to the numerous problems there is a huge setback and for a
better educational system in Nigeria the challenges need to be seriously tackled.