Understanding the Importance of Education in National Development

July 22, 2014 Admin Education

Education is believed to be the bedrock of any serious nations development; hence it is incumbent on such countrys government and relevant stakeholders to take the issues of education seriously.

In other words, it is fundamental to growth and development, and serves as critical indices to measure progress of development agenda. There is no gainsaying that it is the most powerful driving instrument of reducing poverty, improving health care services and ensuring peace and stability.

However, education, as a critical sector of the economy, is facing serious challenges in this jet age and time, as it has moved beyond reading, writing and arithmetics, to the development of skills and capacities in information and communication technology. According to the United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), Information and Communication Technology (ICT) now permeates the educational environment and underscores the very success of the 21st century education. This is an important aspect of nationhood that must not be ignored.

Unfortunately, the Nigerian education sector is confronted with a myriad of challenges, such as inadequate infrastructure and funding, which, no doubt, impede proper implementation of ICT programmes in schools, colleges and other learning centres. In most public and private schools, basic ICT infrastructure are grossly inadequate, and where they are available, epileptic power supply makes it difficult, if not impossible, for them to function properly or be put to good use. But this is not to say that some state and non-state actors have been sitting on the fence watching as our education system continues to dwindle in the face of these challenges. To be fair to some of the stakeholders, they have made concerted efforts over time, but the fact still remains that such efforts are yet to yield positive results. They are, therefore, not good enough. This is evident in the fact that there are gabs to be covered.

As stated above, some concerned Nigerians in different positions of authority have taken the bull by the horn to ensure that education takes its proper place in the development of the nation. In a bid to ensure that the standard of education is uplifted in the country, some governors are known to have introduced free and compulsory education in their various states. They also embarked on various educational programmes to encourage parents to send their children and wards to school. Some lawmakers, in their capacities, have also done what they thought was proper for their constituencies. Hon Usman S. Bawa, popularly referred to as Shehu ABG, who represents Kaduna North in the House of Representatives, is a one of such lawmakers who take issues of education seriously. As a businessman, his father, Alhaji Bawa Garba, digitalised television network with the first Cable Satellite TV in West Africa. This was at a time when cable network was out of the reach of many Nigerians. Interestingly, the lawmaker appears to have taken advantage of this background in technology for the good of the people of Kaduna. He embarks on digital revolution in schools in his constituency.

Education,

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