EVALUATING EDUCATION REFORMS IN NIGERIA: GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND EQUITY IN PUBLIC SCHOOLING

Abstract

The goals of education reforms should be expansion of access, enhanced learning and promotion of inclusive and equitable educational privileges. Nevertheless, neither the presence of reform policies nor the incessant changes made to them translate into enhanced outcomes automatically, particularly for underprivileged learners in public schools. This paper studies education reforms in Nigeria through the interrelated lenses of governance, accountability and equity. It adopts a qualitative review approach, drawing on relevant policy documents, empirical studies, institutional reports and scholarly literature, with a focus on basic public schooling in Nigeria. The review revealed that Nigeria had a series of significant education reforms in the past targeted at broadening involvement, enhancing relevance and consolidating basic education. Yet, persistent challenges such as poor implementation, inadequate harmonisation, weak governance and inadequate monitoring continue to hinder the realization of reform intentions. Research outcomes from the National Assessment of Learning Achievement in Basic Education (NALABE) 2022 show significant knowledge gaps and variances across grade levels and school contexts. They also reveal differences between public and private schools. The review also shows that if functionality is strengthened, clear responsibilities are assigned, reliable information is accessible, and institutions are empowered, accountability mechanisms involving government agencies, schools, teachers, communities and school-based structures can actually be effective and support improvement in learning outcomes. This paper contends that educational equity involves more than equal provision; it entails governance measures that recognise disadvantaged learners and schools, direct appropriate resources towards them and hold responsible stakeholders liable for execution and consequences. It concludes that sustainable education reform in Nigeria requires stability of education policy, genuine implementation, careful monitoring through functional stakeholders and commitment to achieving true accountability and equity.