By Abstract
Education in Nigeria is based on a national philosophy of education. This philosophy is based on the assumption that the individual has self-worth and that the education system should regard the worth and dignity of the human person; inculcate moral and spiritual principles in him, inter-personal and human relations, promote the physical, emotional and psychological development of all children and ensure the acquisition of the necessary competencies for self-reliance. These principles are the building blocks for self-reliance. This paper seeks to examine how equal educational opportunity can give rise to self-reliance. It does this by clarifying the concepts of equal educational opportunity and self-reliance. The paper opines that self-reliant education became necessary following the deficiencies of the missionary/colonial education that laid emphasis on literary education to the near total exclusion of the acquisition of relevant skills for self-reliance. While discussing the role of education in achieving self-reliance, the paper outlines the efforts made so far to equalize educational opportunity in Nigeria. The paper highlights some problems which may be encountered in the self-reliance endeavour such as imported equipment, examination malpractice and poor philosophical stand of the Nigerian education system. It is therefore, concluded that if Nigeria must realize self-reliant education through the instrumentality of equal educational opportunity, its policy on education must be constantly reviewed and restructured in line with the needs of Nigerian society.
Read/download the full paper below