CHALLENGES OF EDUCATIONAL REFORMS IN NIGERIA

Educational reforms emanate from the basic conviction that considerable progress can be made in a nation by its people through careful engineering of the educational process. The freedom of self-rule which Nigeria was enjoying had to match with educational progress. In September 1969, there was a National Curriculum Conference held in Lagos participants at the conference were eager to see Nigeria Chat a new course in its educational system. This paper examines challenges of Educational Reforms in Nigeria. The paper x-rays the National Policy on Education and its relevance. The effects of misguided educational reforms were also looked at and the beginning of crises in the educational system as well as the UBE Programme its prospects were examined. Lack of necessary materials such as infrastructure, machinery and text books for programme implementation and improper planning of reforms such that in many cases the programmes are commenced before the implementation details are worked out, were factors observed as the Major constraints and challenges of educational reforms. The paper recommended among others, that government should set up an independent committee made up of experts in education to study various reforms in the educational sector since independence and come up with a strategy that will enable the nation move forward.