The Challenges to Education in Borno State in the Twenty First Century

Abstract

Borno State is one of the educationally most disadvantaged states in the Federation. According to the 1991 census, Borno State has a population of 2,596,5898 persons. Going by this population, 25% or 665,377 persons are of school age children i.e. age 6-11 years old. However, only 134,346 are currently enrolled in primary schools, and a whopping 320,000 or more are enrolled in Qu'ranic schools. The rest are drop-outs or simply not in school. These children are found both in urban and rural areas. The State can be divided into two zones, the North and South. The Northern zone is completely opposed to Western education and therefore has a history of poor enrolment into primary schools. Conversely, the Southern zone is receptive to Western education and most schools in the area are bustling with pupils. But the good enrolment is being threatened by lack of infrastructure, furniture, adequate teachers and poor general funding. The poor attitude to and general low development of Western education in Borno can be attributed to environmental, religious, economic and social factors. The importance of education as the engine of society's progress and development cannot be over-emphasized. It is said that the 21st Century promises to be highly challenging and only the strong and capable would survive. It is an age that is entirely knowledge-based and knowledge-driven. The challenges to education in Borno State in the 21st Century are how to meet the challenges head-on. To achieve this, there must be massive renovation and construction of schools, recruitment of teachers, provision of instructional materials, proper supervision of schools, relevant curriculum, proper funding, adaptation of religious attitudes to conform with the demands for modern education, the cultivation of a positive attitude and political will by the leadership of the State in implementing the education agenda.