By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has strongly criticised the proposed transition from Nigeria’s current 9-3-4 education system to a 12-4 model, describing it as a superficial and misguided priority.

The proposal, introduced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, seeks to extend basic education to 12 years, followed by a minimum of four years of tertiary education. However, CHRICED argues that this reform fails to address the deep-rooted issues plaguing Nigeria’s education sector.

In a statement released on Sunday and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, CHRICED emphasised that Nigeria’s educational challenges require comprehensive reform. The organisation highlighted critical issues, including:

The alarming decline in educational standards

Outdated curricula

Severe shortages of instructional materials

Rampant corruption and mismanagement within the education sector

CHRICED noted that these factors have led to a significant brain drain and hindered the quality and accessibility of education across the country.

The organisation expressed disappointment that the proposed system ignores the urgent issue of the large number of out-of-school children, who remain deprived of their right to education.

CHRICED pointed to educational models in countries like Ghana, Rwanda, and South Africa, which have adopted tailored solutions to meet local educational needs. It called for Nigeria to take a similar approach by addressing foundational issues such as poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient teacher training.

CHRICED urged the federal government to abandon the 12-4 proposal and instead prioritise meaningful reforms to create an effective and globally competitive education system.

“This initiative, while perhaps well-intentioned, represents a significant misallocation of priorities at a time when Nigeria’s educational landscape is in dire need of comprehensive reform,” the statement read.

The organisation further stressed: The urgent need for sufficient funding for educational institutions

The importance of addressing the chronic shortage of qualified teachers

The necessity of updating curricula to meet modern educational and developmental demands

CHRICED warned that without meaningful reforms, Nigeria’s education system will continue to decline, leading to instability and poor developmental outcomes.

“We believe that the proposal by the Honourable Minister will not enhance education quality in any meaningful way,” the statement concluded.

CHRICED urged President Tinubu’s administration to focus on reforms that address the root causes of the education crisis, thereby fostering a workforce capable of meeting national development goals and competing globally.