In the year 1988, the Federal Ministry of education was established to direct Education in Nigeria. We take a look at the functions of federal ministry of education in Nigeria and all you need to know about the very important ministry.

FUNCTIONS OF THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

The following are the roles and functions of this ministry.

  • Formulating a national policy on education.
  • Collecting and collating data for purposes of educational planning and financing.
  • Maintaining uniform standards of education throughout the country.
  • Controlling the quality of education in the country through the supervisory role of the Inspectorate Services Department within the Ministry.
  • Harmonizing educational policies and procedures of all the states of the federation through the instrumentality of the National Council on Education.
  • Effecting co-operation in educational matters on an international scale.
  • Developing curricula and syllabuses at the national level in conjunction with other bodies.

Function Of Federal Ministry Of Education In Nigeria

Parastatals/Agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education

  • Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND)
  • Joint Admissions And Matriculation Board (JAMB)
  • National Board for Educational Measurement (NBEM)
  • National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)
  • National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB)
  • National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE)
  • National Commission for Mass Literacy (NCME)
  • National Commission for Nomadic Education
  • National Examination Council (NECO)
  • National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NEIPA)
  • National Institute for Nigeria Languages (NINL)
  • National Library of Nigeria (NLN)
  • National Mathematical Centre (NMC)
  • Nigerian French Language Village (NFLV)
  • Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN)
  • Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC)
  • West African Examination Council (WAEC)
  • National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)
  • National Primary Education Commission (NPEC)
  • National Teachers’ Institute (NTI)
  • National Universities Commission (NUC)
  • Nigeria Arabic Language Village (NALV)
  • Nigeria Education Bank (NEB)
  • Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC)

List of Former Education Ministers including Ministers of State in Nigeria

  • Aja Nwachukwu (1958 to 1965)
  • Richard Akinjide (1965 to 1967)
  • Wenike Briggs (1967 to 1970)
  • Eke (1970 to 1975)
  • Ahmadu Ali (1975 to 1978)
  • B. Leton (1978 to 1979)
  • Sylvester Ugoh (1979 to 1982)
  • Alhaji B. Usman (1979 to 1982)
  • Elizabeth Iyase (1979 to 1982)
  • Madubuike (1982 to 1983)
  • A. Bamigbaiye (1982 to 1983)
  • Sunday Afolabi (September to December 1983)
  • Alhaji Y. Abdullahi (1984 to 1985)
  • Alhaji Ibrahim (1985)
  • Jubril Aminu (1985 to 1989)
  • Babs Fafunwa (1990 to 1992)
  • Ben Nwabueze (January 1993 to August 1993)
    • Imogie (January 1993 to November 1993)
  • Alhaji Dongodaji (January 1993 to January 1994)
  • Iyorchia Ayu (January 1994 to February 1995)
  • Alhaji Wada Nas (January 1995 to February 1995)
  • T. Liman (February 1995 to December 1997)
  • Iyabo Anisulowo (February 1997 to December 1997)
  • Alhaji D. Birmah (December 1997 to June 1998)
  • Achunine (December 1997 to June 1998)
  • Olaiya Oni (August 1998 to May 1999)
  • Alhaji S. Saadu (August 1998 to May 1999)
  • Tunde Adeniran (June 1999 to January 2001)
  • Alhaji Lawam Batagarawa (June 1999 to 2001)
  • Babalola Borishade (February 2001 to June 2003)
  • Alhaji Bello Usman (February 2001 to June 2003)
  • N. C. Osuji (July 2003 to February 2005)
  • Hajia Bintu Musa (July 2003 to June 2005)
  • Chinwe Obaji (June 2005 to June 2006)
  • Halima Tayo Alao (June 2005 to 2006)
  • Grace Ogwuche (February 2006 to June 2006)
  • Oby Ezekwesili (June 2006 to April 2007)
  • Sayadi Abba Ruma (June 2006 to April 2007)
  • Adewunmi Abitoye (June 2006 to May 2007)
  • Igwe Aja Nwachukwu (June 2007 to December 2008)
  • Jerry Agada (June 2007 to December 2008)
  • Hajia Aishatu Jibril Dukku (June 2007 – ?)
  • Sam Egwu (December 2008 to March 2010)
  • Ruqqayat Rufai (April 2010 – September 2013)
  • Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau (2014 – 2015)
  • Adamu Adamu (November 2015 – Present)

Nigerian Education System

The ministry of Education in Nigeria is responsible for overseeing education in the country. Local authorities are responsible for implementing a state-controlled policy regarding public education and also state schools. The education system is broken down into Kindergarten, Primary education, Secondary education and also Tertiary education.

Due to instability in governance in the country since it gained independence, the country has not been able to successfully implement a set of education policies. There are notable regional differences in quality, curriculum, and also funding within the education system in Nigeria. As of today, Nigeria has the largest population of out-of-school learning youth in the world.

  • Primary Education

In the country, a child is expected to begin primary education at the age of 3. He or she will then spend a total of 6 years in primary school and graduate with a school-leaving certificate. Subjects taught at the primary level of education in the country include mathematics, English language, agricultural science, home economics, Christian Religious Knowledge, Islamic knowledge studies and one of the three major indigenous languages Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo.

Some private schools also offer subjects such as computer science, French, and Fine Arts. At the end of their education, primary school students are required to take a Common Entrance Examination in order to qualify for admission into the Federal and State Government Secondary schools available in the country as well as private ones. Before the year 1976, education policy in the country was still largely shaped by the colonial policy of the British Colonial Period. In the year 1976, the Universal Primary Education program was established. This program faced so many challenges and was subsequently revised in 1981 and 1990.

The Universal Basic Education, UBE, came into being as a replacement for the Universal Primary Education and intended to enhance the success of the first nine years of schooling. The UBE program involves 6 years of Primary School education and 3 years of Junior Secondary School education, culminating in a total of 9 years of uninterrupted schooling, and transition from one class to the next is automatic but subject to continuous assessment.

This scheme is well monitored by the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, and has made it “free”, “compulsory” and a right of every Nigerian child. The UBEC law makes it mandatory that a 9-year formal schooling, adult literacy, and non-formal education, skill acquisition programs, and the education of special groups such as nomads and migrants, girl child and women, Al-majiri, street children and disabled people is carried out.

  • Secondary Education

After 6 years of primary school, students then move to Secondary school where they spend a total of 6 years divided into 3 years of Junior and 3 years of Senior secondary education. By the time they get to Senior Secondary School Class 2 (SS2), students are taking the GCE O’Levels exam, which is not mandatory, but some students take it so as to prepare them for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination.

The Senior Secondary School ends in year 3 after which students sit for WASSCE. Junior Secondary School is free in all government owned schools and compulsory. It leads to the BECE, which allows those that pass to advance to Senior Secondary School. The SSS curriculum is based on 4 core subjects that are completed by 4 or 5 elective subjects. The core subjects are English; Mathematics; Economics; Civic Education.

Electives are biology, chemistry, physics, integrated science, English literature, history, geography, social studies, agricultural science or a vocational subject such as Commerce, food and nutrition, technical drawing or fine arts. Students are also allowed to proceed to Technical college after BECE. Technical college curriculum also lasts 3 years and leads to a trade/craftsmanship certificate.

  • Tertiary Education

Those that desire tertiary education will have to sit for UTME after passing WASSCE or NECO. Based on their performance in these exams, they will be offered admissions to study courses for a period lasting between 4 and 6 years in the university. Some will attend other higher institutions of learning in the country such as polytechnics and colleges of education.

Related:

Conclusion on Functions Of The Federal Ministry Of Education In Nigeria

It is the duty of the Federal ministry of education to oversee all matters pertaining to education in the country. It does this in compilation with several government parastatals and agencies under it. Other functions of the federal minute of education in Nigeria are provided in this article.

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