MANAGING BASIC EDUCATION AMIDST ECONOMIC HARDSHIP AND INSECURITY CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Introduction 

Basic education serves as the foundation for national development, equipping children with the essential knowledge, skills, and values required for personal growth and societal progress. In Nigeria, the management of basic education has continued to face serious challenges, particularly in the context of persistent economic hardships and widespread insecurity. The Nigerian economy has experienced fluctuations characterized by inflation, unemployment, declining government revenue, and inadequate funding of the education sector. These economic constraints have resulted in poor infrastructure, insufficient learning materials, irregular payment of teachers’ salaries, and declining quality of instruction in many public schools.

In addition, insecurity—manifested in insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts, and farmer-herder crises—has further aggravated the situation. Many schools, especially in the northern regions, have been attacked or shut down, displacing teachers and learners, and disrupting the continuity of educational programmes. Consequently, school enrollment, attendance, and retention rates have declined, undermining the goals of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme (Ogunode, Ahaotu  & Obi-Ezenekwe 2021)

Managing basic education amidst these economic and security challenges therefore requires innovative policies, strategic planning, and effective utilization of available resources. It also demands collaboration among government agencies, communities, and development partners to ensure that every Nigerian child has access to safe, equitable, and quality basic education despite the prevailing adversities (Ogunode, &Abashi, 2020; Ogunode, Johnson, & Olatunde-Aiyedun, 2022). Thus, this chapter is discussed under the following subheadings.

1. Concept of Basic education
2. Concept of Economic hardship
3. Concept of Insecurity
4. Strategies to Manage Basic Education Amidst Economic Hardships and Insecurity in Nigeria