What to learn and teach in Nigeria
An introduction to Nigeria
Nigeria is one of the largest countries in Africa. Most media outlets are not kind to Nigeria, so chances are you might not have the correct impression about this beautiful country. For example, did you know that Nigeria’s national parks are home to some of the last remaining wild endangered species in West Africa? Or that it has a month-long event called Calabar Carnival, also known as Africa’s biggest street party?
There are more than enough reasons to bring a visit to this beautiful country. Thanks to Nigeria’s geographic location in the tropical zone, it has many varied landscapes and an abundance of animal- and plant life. Nigeria is a patchwork of all different kinds of ecosystems like deserts, mountains, jungles, plains, and swamps. Through these landscapes run all different kinds of rivers, including the Niger Delta, the third-largest delta in the world. Because Nigeria has such a diverse landscape, it is home to a broad range of plants and animals. For example, the slopes of Nigeria’s southern mountains are covered with tropical green plants, flowers, fruits, birds, and butterflies. These mountains are also home to the rare western lowland gorillas. The regions around Cross River State harbors, also located in the southern part of Nigeria, are home to the largest diversity of butterflies in the world.
Learning and teaching in Nigeria
Visiting Nigeria is a great idea, but staying for a longer period to really get to know the country and its people is even a better idea. And what is a perfect way to really get to know people? Teaching.
Teaching is not only a great way to earn money and to get to know people, but teaching is also a way to shape the future. The West African Senior School Certificate Exams (WASSCE) measure the historical academic performance of students. Between 2008 and 2015, the results show that less than 40% of the students are able to pass. By becoming a teacher, you too can be part of furthering quality education in Nigeria.
The Nigerian school system follows a 9-3-4 structure. First, students go through 9 years of basic education. The basic education consists of 3 years of lower basic education, 3 years of middle basic education, and another 3 years of upper basic education. After basic education, students have 3 years of senior secondary school education. If they’re not done learning by then, they can also follow up with another 4 years of tertiary education. Tertiary education consists of educational colleges, polytechnics, and universities.
How and what to teach in Nigeria?
To teach in Nigeria, you will need teaching qualifications. There are several types of government-approved qualifications and it all depends on what level you intend to teach. After you’ve received qualifications, you can either teach at a government-approved public school or one of the many private schools in Nigeria. Especially the private schools are always on the lookout for enthusiastic and qualified teachers. To get you inspired, here are some of the best subjects to learn and teach in Nigeria.
- Languages
Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa. With this many people, it is no surprise that Nigeria has the third-highest number of languages in the world. There are at least 250 different languages in Nigeria, some sources even claiming more than 500. Local languages such as Hausa, Igbo, Edo, Igala or Urhobo are well known. Many international tourists like to learn some of those local languages. Another popular language to pick up is Yoruba, which is the common language in Nigeria. Don’t worry if you are not a polyglot. Most of the people speak English. This comes in handy if you want to learn or teach in English in Nigeria. There is always a high demand for English teachers. Are you interested in teaching English abroad? Here is an excellent article to teach English.
2. Mathematics
Education in Nigeria starts with primary education at around age 5. One of the 7 basic subjects taught at the primary level is mathematics. Mathematics is also important in Nigeria’s secondary education. Senior secondary curriculum is based on 4 core subjects, one of which is mathematics. Basirat Olamide Ajayi proved that the need for math teachers is great in Nigeria by becoming an online sensation when she turned to social media to give free mathematics classes during COVID-19 and gained more than 1.800 students.
3. To Learn
Digital literacy in education
Just like the rest of the world, Nigeria was struck by COVID-19. The pandemic proved a big challenge to the education sector, especially when it came to digital literacy and remote learning. Because of the sudden appearance of the pandemic, many schools and teachers didn’t have time to prepare themself and their students for this challenge. The Teacher Registration Council of Nigeria has taken the task of preventing this from ever happening again on themselves. With the support of UNICEF, they will train 30.000 teachers across 16 states in digital literacy and remote learning.
Safety
Before you travel to Nigeria, do keep in mind that safety is an important factor. Unfortunately, Nigeria does have a high crime rate and homosexuality is considered illegal. Please check with government guidelines to get more information about travel and safety in Nigeria. However, safety concerns are usually restricted to certain regions in Nigeria like the northern states and the southern oil-producing states. Expats living and working in Nigeria report that there are risks, but that they generally feel safe in Nigeria.
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