The Impact of Poor Infrastructure on Learning Outcomes in Nigerian Primary Schools

The Impact of Poor Infrastructure on Learning Outcomes in Nigerian Primary Schools

Nation building and development depend mainly on education and this is one of the biggest fact that cant be erased. Primary education is the foundation for young nations because Nigeria has so many children in its population.

The state of primary school infrastructure in Nigeria is a problem that hinders effective learning. Rural and urban schools across Nigeria have multiple infrastructure problems which include over populate classrooms and broken furniture and no ventilation and leaking roofs and no clean water systems.

A substandard learning environment makes students lose focus and the teaching from teachers becomes less effective. Students can’t concentrate properly in over crowded and noisy learning spaces and that leads to academic failure.

A school without toilets and clean drinking water is a health hazard to students and that can trigger frequent illness and regular absence from school.

No electricity and inadequate library resources means students can’t get the learning resources they need. Multiple factors in school combine to produce negative learning outcome that hinders student academic achievement.

The Impact of Poor Infrastructure on Learning Outcomes in Nigerian Primary Schools

This article highlights the multiple effects of inadequate infrastructure on Nigerian primary school education and proffers solutions to improve learning environment.

1. Overcrowded Classrooms

The biggest challenge in Nigerian primary education is classrooms filled to capacity. One teacher teaches more than fifty to hundred students in each class in many public schools. Many students in one class makes it impossible for teachers to give individual attention to students who need extra support. High number of students in a class makes noise level to rise and distraction to worsen for individual students to focus. Research shows that children perform better when they are in classes with fewer students because teacher-student interaction increases.

The large number of students in classes makes it difficult for teachers to respond to assignments within expected time. Delayed learning and stunted growth becomes major outcome of this situation. The lack of attention from teachers causes many students in these classes to struggle with reading and writing and mathematics. Their poor performance in exams blocks their promotion to higher education.

2. Lack of Proper School Buildings and Furniture

School buildings in Nigerian primary schools are in a state of disrepair. Lack of classrooms forces schools to use trees or temporary shelters as learning areas for students. Lessons must stop when it rains because rainwater seeps into the damaged roof before flooding the classroom floor. Students experience heat related discomfort during hot days since their classrooms have no ventilation system.

The major educational challenge in these schools is the absence of proper desks and chairs. Students in the school premises must use broken chairs and sit on the floor which creates obstacles to their writing and class work. A good learning space needs proper furniture selection and good light and organized physical setup. The absence of proper furniture and insufficient light makes students lose their motivation and abandon their academic pursuit.

3. Poor Sanitation and Health Issues

Toilets and clean water facilities are absent in most Nigerian primary schools. Hundred plus students in some schools use a single toilet while others use unclean areas to answer the call of nature. Inadequate facilities means risk of infection which can be severe on health.

Children are always likely to get diarrhea and cholera, you know why? Because they don’t have a clean place to wash their hands after using the toilet. Unfortunately for the girls, they face more consequences of bad sanitation than boys. And this has led to many of our girl child to dropout of school. This dropout usually happen during their menstrual period when there are no proper toilets and sanitary materials.

So it’s harder for them to stay with their male classmates. Illnesses from poor hygiene makes students absent in class which leads to learning and academic problems.

4. Lack of Electricity and Learning Materials

Schools run on electricity to power lights and fans and projectors and computers. Most Nigerian primary schools don’t have constant electricity. The lack of power supply makes it hard to use the teaching tools of today that enhance educational experience. Without power the classrooms are dark and students can’t read or see what’s on the blackboard.

Many schools in Nigeria don’t have library facilities and necessary educational resources. Students have challenges while studying because many primary schools don’t have enough textbooks. When students have to share textbooks there’s no enough time for reading and writing. Students without learning materials have challenges in their education because they can’t learn well or perform well in exams.

5. Government and Community Support

The government has a major responsibility to establish good schools. More funding is needed to build classrooms and provide school furniture and improve sanitary facilities. Government policies should provide clean water and electricity and conducive learning spaces for every school.

Local schools get support from the community when they donate to their educational needs. Community leaders and parents should come together to renovate classrooms and provide school furniture and ensure essential facilities like clean water and functional toilets in schools. NGOs should provide construction support for new facilities and learning materials to schools.

Conclusion

Lack of infrastructure is a major barrier to educational success in Nigerian primary schools. The combination of overcrowded classrooms and dilapidated buildings and no toilets and no power prevents students from reaching their full potential. Without proper learning conditions children can’t concentrate and teaching is hard for teachers.

Improving school buildings requires collaboration between the Nigerian government and local communities and private institutions. Investment in school buildings by Nigerian institutions will create better learning spaces that produce better results. Children need good education so improving school infrastructure is key to achieving that.

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