This article tries to see how formal education can be a tool for national security. It identifies, apart from formal education, some other areas of development that can serve as tools for a nation’s security, among which is social development.

The article also tries to catalogue some hindrances that affect the use of formal education as a tool for national security. It is in light of this that suggestions aimed at alleviating these problems are made.

Concept of Education

The word education, in the context of this article, is the organised type of education which is often referred to as formal education, and it is provided in a specially-designed environment.

Formal education, as seen by Obanya (198,5), is the type of education which goes on in institutions, which has a graded structure enabling learners to move from one stage to another and involves the structuring of instruction.

Further explanation on formal education was given by Lassa (1998) as education that takes place in schools and institutions which are manned by teachers and based on a planned curriculum (and co-curricular) experiences!

Formal education could be acquired at four recognisable levels in the formal education process: Pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education. As observed by Ajayi (1995), this formal education plays a big role in the development of appropriate manpower.

Concept of National Security

Nigeria was under the British colonial administration for many years. There were laws enacted for the evolution of the West African force, which were used to maintain peace and tranquillity and quench chaos in West Africa.

Later, self-government was granted to the regions in Nigeria, and this gave the regions the power to have their enforcement agencie,s i.,.: the regional police force. After independence in 1960, each arm of the forces -the army, the air force, the naval and the police was inherited by the new government.

Towards this end, the police and the army are charged with the responsibility of quenching Nigeria in space; all these arms of force are agents of national security, which are to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

The federal government spreads huge sums of money to fund these security agencies for optimal performance and tight national security. In the wise, a country devoid of economic resources for its people will have its internal security threatened. However, national security is the tool for national security.

Education and National Security

After considering the concept of education and those areas of development that could serve as tools for a nation’s security, let us see formal education as a tool for national security.

Education is central and germane to national development and security. No wonder Ajayi (1995) said that no nation can achieve greatness and witness tremendous growth and security in terms of development in all sectors if proper attention is not given to its education system.

So education can be regarded as a catalyst, a key, the bedrock and a powerful instrument for a nation’s security.

It is hoped that education will enable an individual to be effective in society, and develop various skills for coping in life for functionality, self-fulfilment and economic development.

If this is so, then education plays a vital role in providing the appropriate manpower in the economic, political, and social sectors of a nation’s security.

Hindrances to the use of Formal Education as a tool for National Security

It is worth noting that while serious efforts are being made to ensure that formal education serves as a useful tool for a nation’s security, several factors have been bringing insecurity. These are therefore considered:

The difficulty in funding education

This arises from the fact that a lot of us are very interested in eggs, without taking care of the hens that lay the desirable or golden eggs. They go together, and we should plan for them as such. Funding for education has always been a very controversial subject. There appears for a shortage of funds for the education system at all levels.

Nwagu (199search for answers to the question of who should pay for education and the ratio of contribution of funds towards educational support from different tiers of government, par and communities at large. This difficulty in funding education can make those who are concerned in the education industry feel cheated and have no trust in the government(s).

Management of Education

It should be noted that the successful management of education depends on the availability of the Nigerian education system has witnessed tremendous growth and expansion in terms of to capacity to maintain standards and efficiency in the process and products of education.

Falling Quality of Education

The issue of falling quality is a great concern in Nigerian education. This has therefore qualitative education.

Problem with Teachers

The importance of teachers and the roles they play in the education process are significant to basic education. Balogun (1988) said teachers in Nigeria are managers of knowledge that cannot be dispensed with. But where teachers are half-baked and do not perform their duties, this constitutes a hindrance to the nation’s security.

Most teachers in Nigeria are uncommitted, uninspired, idle, immoral, and antisocial, while many are ignorant of their fields of discipline. In addition to the problem with teachers, Lassa (1998) observed that up to date, there remains an acute shortage of teachers in schools, despite the belief that teachers are the determinants of the quality of education. This ugly situation still exists.

Politics of education

Many problems in education in Nigeria have occurred because of the politicisation of education. Because of the excessive centralisation of education and the intervention of the Federal Government in matters which should be handled by the state, crises such as industrial action by staff and riots by students have become very rampant.

Shortage of books and Materials

Many children attend schools without books because they cannot afford them. Educational materials are also costly for them. A situation as described here is incapable of being ensured.

Student Indiscipline and Vandalism

It should be noted that educational institutions have not been established only to promote learning but also to promote character. The acts of indiscipline and vandalism exhibited by students hurt the quality of learning in the institutions.

Problem with Curriculum

Ivowi (1998) reported clearly that there is poor students’ performance mainly in the sciences at the secondary school level despite the gains in the curriculum development and efforts at implementation. Ivowi (1998) attributed this problem to teachers’ incompetence and a lack of effective equipment to help gear up the cognitive level of students.

Problem of Congestion in Schools

This problem is pronounced in urban centres where about 70 pupils are put in a classroom that is meant for only 30 or 35 pupils. Similarly, in secondary schools, there are some with over 55 students in classes built for 40 students.

In such congested classrooms, little meaningful learning and teaching can take place. This situation creates a lot of problems in the educational system.

It is worth mentioning here that the hindrances affecting the use of education as a tool for national security outlined in the discussion are more exhaustive.

The hindrances are designed for the policy-makers and implementers to note the shortcomings and map out appropriate strategies for dealing with them.

Ways Out of Hindrances

Having identified the hindrances that pose problems for using education as a tool for citational security in Nigeria, it is proper and worthy to suggest or recommend a way to advance:

The tiers of government should properly do funding of Education. If funds are not made to support the education system, the best plans for education cannot be implemented, nor can the best organisational structures be properly and efficiently managed.

Section 1

There should be distinct areas of funding by all the tiers of government in the area of education. These obligations should be enforced.

There should be decentralisation of educational management. The primary role of coordination and planning of organisational guidelines

On falling qualities in education, there is a need for a change of attitude to study in school, and truancy should be curbed. Upon it all, there is a need to motivate teachers to enable them to put up their best.

They plan for teacher production. Measures must be put in place so that men and women who our educated in sufficient numbers.

On the politicisation of education, government and politicians should come together to determine how education in Nigeria should be funded, and how educational plans, politics, programmes and projects can be implemented. This will minimise wastage in the education system.

Section 2

Government at all levels should move away from any policies that are politically feasible and newsworthy, which promise high short-term political dividends. Rather, the government should launch an educational programme or project that will benefit everybody.

The importance of relevant textbooks and other materials in the learning process cannot be ruled out. To facilitate effective learning in schools, parents, governments, and notable others must see to the provision and supply of books and materials.

Section 3

On the problem of student indiscipline and vandalism, there is a need for an improved administrative style and improved channels of communication between students and the authorities. In addition, the use of guidance counsellors in schools to deal with deviant vices becomes necessary.

To help solve this problem with the curriculum, there is a need for curricular review for all levels of education to be in line with the reality of our situation. Youth centres with the necessary infrastructure for students to acquire skills should be established.

On the problem of congestion in schools, funds should be made available to build more classrooms. Also, to curb congestion in schools, there is a need to limit the size of classes to approved standards.

Conclusion

Education is to be a tool for national security in Nigeria, let there be sincerity of purpose invariance both in the executive and legislative arms of government.

Any effort to plan and implement any educational policies and programmes without the basic sincerity of purpose at the levels and arms of government is bound to fail. Education should be given a high or attention by the government than it is presently. Read related posts on our education page of the site.