QUESTION: WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES AND STRATEGIES OF NON-FORMAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION

          It is importance to highlight on the title of this course (The principles and strategies of non-formal education in Nigeria) but let look at the meaning of Education. Education it is a general sense is a form of learning by which the knowledge skills and habits of a group of people are transferring from one generation to the next through teaching training or research.

          Education can also be defined as the systematic process of developing the individuals physically, mentally, spiritually and otherwise, and as we all know that we have two types of education formal and non-formal education but I am going  to discuss on non-formal education;

          Non-formal Education is the kind of education that is organized and deliberately means of acquiring knowledge but mostly outside formal setting. Non-formal education is acquired in trade houses like the carpenter, mechanic workshops, tailor shop, hair dressing and barbing salon e.t.c.

Non-formal education it is an organized learning activity like formal education but it takes place outside the structure of the formal education system that is consciously aimed at meeting specific learning needs of a particular group of children, youths or adults in the community most non formal education is an open one and there is more flexibility with regard to various aspects of education that is admission, curriculum, place of instructions, mode of instructions and the time and duration of instructions. It includes various kinds of educational activity such as operation feed the Nation, skill training, health and family planning, educational works amongst youth and women and functional literacy programmed

PRINCIPLES WHY THE GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA TAKE GIVEN NON- FORMAL

(1) To develop social and individual efficiency so that the individual can become more effective in the society.

(2) For the preparation and training of young people for the problems, the task and the future as they exist today and can be foreseen tomorrow.

(3) For self fulfillment or self realization.

(4) To provide men and women with vocation training that will enable them to be self supporting.

STRATEGIES OF NON-FORMAL EDUCATION

1. Non-formal education services as means of reducing increasing gap of rural-urban socio-economic problems.

2. Non-formal education, through its diversified programmed has been viewed as an effective means of poverty alleviation (Mumba 2002 in Okandeje)

3. Non-formal education equip participants to become more functional and responsible citizen of the nation.

4. Non-formal develops personal, social and professional skills through experimenting in a relatively safe environment.

5. Non-formal education develops in recipients such life sustaining qualities as self-confidence, respect, tolerance, intellectual awareness and independence, creativity empowerment, emancipation e.t.c. ( Dumitrescu 1999 in Okandije 2005)

6. Non-formal education focuses on teaching people to improve their basic level of subsistence, nutritional standard and general health practices Hindrances to promotion of non-formal education in Nigeria.

PROBLEMS OF NON-FORMAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

1. Lack of Literacy Teachers: For there to be continuity in any profession or practice, there must need for those who will pass across the demanded knowledge or skill for others. The lack of this caliber of persons will hinder the promotion or continuity of the practice.

In the case of non-formal education, the lack of literacy teachers or instructors is a serious hindrance to the promotion of the discipline in Nigeria. The reason for this may not be unconnected to the low salary and low status of instructors, resulting to lack of motivation noticed among the instructors of non-formal education sector.

2. Inadequate Funding: Inadequate funds to run non-formal education programmed in Nigeria seem to be one of the most pressing hindrance to the formation of the sector. No matter how laudable and educational plan and objectives may appear, if there are no funds to carry out the programmed and project which will lead to achievement of the set objectives and plans, it will not see the light of the day.

3. Lack of Recognition of non-formal education in Nigeria: There is little or no recognition given to graduates or practitioners in the non-formal education sector. The over emphasis on certificate as against practical skill had made the value of non-formal education not to be realized.

4. Lack of Training or Qualified Practitioners: There is shortage of teachers or instructors in the non-formal education sector, added to this is the fact that the few available are not trained or professional.

5. Problem of underrating the sector: The non-formal education sector. Nigeria is under rated and undervalued compared to formal education sector. This perception makes the society to see the recipient of the non-formal education as second class citizen or people who are not educated.

CONCLUSION

The paper concludes that since the non-formal sector is a variable wheel for the development of individuals and nations at large, all stake holders, government and non-governmental agencies should encourage the full realization and utilization of the non-formal education sector, for national development.

REFERENCE

Prof Dandare 1981 lecture presentation sullen in University of Ibadan.