Secondary Education in Post-Colonial Nigeria: The Policy and Implementation’s Pros and Cons

Abstract

This paper examined the pros and cons of the policy and implementation of secondary education in post-colonial Nigeria. A number of identified efforts and commitments made over the years by the Nigerian government in the formulation, planning and implementation of educational policies in secondary education were found to be some of the good inputs conceived as instruments for national development. However, some of these efforts were defeated on the long run, because of a number of other manifestations that negated the intent of the policy to better secondary education in Nigeria. As a way forward, the paper concluded that if the country is to enjoy the dividends of secondary education, there is urgent need to address the challenges that have limited the implementation of educational policies in the secondary education sector. It was recommended inter alia, a review of some of the secondary education policy contents and the implementation of innovative policies and programmes directed towards improving standards of secondary education in the country.