PROBLEMS OF EDUCATION IN NIGERIA AND PROSPECTS THROUGH P4C

ABSTRACT

For any nation to survive, that nation must strongly uphold and abide by its philosophies of Education. Nigerian educational system has been destabilized due to lack of appropriate approach to educational issues. The gross effect is total breakdown in Law and order in our society. Philosophy for children (P4C) is an approach to education that can help eradicate the canker worms eating the Nigerian educational industry because it is notable for its effectiveness in arousing critical and creative skills among students.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

Actually, following the established fact that the Nigerian nation was being colonized by the Britain, Nigerian educational system was constructed on a remnant of the three ‘Rs’ as brought by the British government, -these include: READING, WRITING AND ARITHMETIC. The formation of the Nigerian academic system consciously omitted the most vital or important educative valves. The fourth ‘R’ which was termed reasoning or thinking has been considered by many scholars as being a formality. Obviously, we teach our children how to write, read and do arithmetic in our schools and these values are entered in all our curricular. But very unfortunately, the most essential valence or ingredients of education – that is reasoning is conspicuously absent in the school curriculum. In Nigeria, no teacher teaches our children how to think and reason under a certain condition within a given period of time. Both in secondary schools and tertiary institutions, there is no text book whereby the ‘principles of good reasoning and thinking are put in place for people’s use.

It is interesting to note that the private institutions in Nigeria have the good intention but since the force of pre-established curriculum of the country limits them which compels our educative system to that mere values of writing, reading and arithmetic – thereby ignoring the most important ingredients of education called reasoning and thinking – they (the private institutions) fell into the same academic pit with public schools. Apparently, Philosophy for Children (P4C), is not all about teaching the children views and ideas of specific philosophers of the world or of teaching children the University-style philosophy in schools. Rather, it is about reconstructing the age-old discipline of philosophy to make it easy accessible for children and teachers alike. Philosophy for Children (P4C), is all about Laying foundations for good thinking and sound reasoning – in contexts, both in and out of schools. It is about helping children find ways to connect their thoughts and ideas with others, to enable them build a coherent understanding of the world and their experience of it. Teaching children to value and as well respect the views of others, while at the same time encourage them to look for reasoning regarding what they think, believe, say or act. In fact, philosophy for children in this way, helps to build that self-esteem in person especially as it concerns our children.

1.2 POINT OF INQUIRY/STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:

We believe that both the private and public owned schools could move from the present academic tragedy to academic excellence. It is my candid opinion that one of the ways out of this educational mess is the adoption of the critical, creative and caring thinking. I said this taking cognizance of the fact that philosophy for children (P4C) is never about teaching children the views of specific philosophers or of teaching University – style philosophy in schools. As I had pointed before, philosophy for Children is all about: (a) Laying foundations for good thinking and reasoning both in and outside school; (b) Helping children to seeing beyond “hard-facts”; assisting them to make reasonable judgements; (c) Reconstructing: the age-old discipline of philosophy to make it accessible for children and teachers, (d) Thinking in different ways and at different levels; for instance, thinking about a question and concept; (e) Helping children find ways to connect their thought and ideas with others, so that they can build a coherent understanding of the world, (f) Providing opportunities for children to discover and invent ideas” rather than merely absorbing and regurgitating the views of others. (g) Demonstrating to children the value of reflective and self-corrective discussion for improving their understanding and resolving. Philosophy for Children is as much about problem seeking as it is about problem solving. Now, regarding the fact that in issues of philosophy for children, children and their teacher share some reading or listening, the children take thinking time to devise their own questions and then discuss them accordingly.