Towards an enhancement of the legal regime for access to primary education in Nigeria

Abstract

There is growing unease over Nigeria’s continued inability to achieve the goal of education for all notwithstanding the recognition of the value of education in the country. As a direct consequence of the feeling, spirited efforts have been and are still being made to address the issue. The belief has always been and has remained so, that education is critical to the transformation of the society and indeed its liberation. Political, economic and social-cultural impediments, however, continued to militate against the achievement of the objective of education for all. Addressing these impediments require a robust legal framework that would ensure consistency of policy and responsibility in the management of the educational system. This paper examines the legal framework in place for Nigeria’s educational system using the doctrinal research methodology. It identifies the inefficacy of the present legal framework in providing an enabling environment for the achievement of Nigeria’s education goals due largely to the absence of a country-wide normative framework. It also makes a case for a national legislation which will put more responsibility on the federal arm of government to ensure a more efficient educational system. The study recommends that the right to education for the child should be elevated to the status of constitutional right. Federal government’s responsibility for primary education should be enhanced. Education Reform Bill should be reviewed and represented to the legislature.

Keywords: Access to Primary Education, Legal Regime, Enhancement, Nigeria