Rethinking Nigerian Tertiary Education Policies: Toward Equity and Accessibility

Abstract

Nigeria as a country gives much credence to tertiary education as the means for social and economic mobility, social transformation, as well as the major platform for higher level workforce development – managerial and technological. To achieve these laudable objectives, government has given approval to private individuals and organizations to own and manage private tertiary institutions of learning. This paper examines some of the glitches that accompany Nigerian tertiary education policies such as high costs, the widening gap between the upper class and indigent students, the circumvention of standards in the name of profits, among others. Suggestions made for improvement; include government regulation of tuition fee in both public and private institutions, mandatory entrepreneurial studies for undergraduates, guide against gender, religious and academic qualification discrimination, restoration of rigor and commitment in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The study concluded that for tertiary institutions in Nigeria to remain self-reliant, self-steering and able to survive in a competitive world; various educational policies should be effectively institutionalized and operationalized.