According to the National Policy on Education, the objectives are as follows:
i) The inculcation of national consciousness and national unity;
(ii) The inculcation of the right type of values and attitudes for the survival of the individual and the Nigerian society;
(iii) The training of the mind in the understanding of the world around; and
(iv) The acquisition of appropriate skills and the development of mental, physical and social abilities and competencies as equipment for the individual to live in and contribute to the development of the society.
Recent reforms that would influence decisions on teacher recruitment, training and employment
i)Universal Basic Education Act of 2004, which provides for 9 years basic education (6 years primary and 3 years junior secondary). Education at this level is free, universal and compulsory – the UBE law has provision for parents who fail to send their children to school and also sanctions for States;
ii)Establishment of the Teachers Registration Council by law in 1993;
iii)Separation of junior from senior secondary schools;
iv)Introduction of information and communication technology (ICT) into the school system;
v)Prescription of minimum number of subjects to be taken by SSCE candidates;
vi)Prescription of French in the primary and secondary school curriculum as a second official language;
vii)Integration of basic education in the programme of Quranic schools, to ensure equal opportunity and effective implementation of UBE;
viii)Repositioning of science, technical and vocational education in the scheme of national education for optimum performance; and, Establishment of the Federal Teachers’ Scheme.
