POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS IN EXTERNL EXAMINATIONS: A HYDRA-HEADED PROBLEM

Abstract

Life in all its categories spins on education. This concept, education is as good as the vehicle through which knowledge in all its forms are impacted on people. While the impact of knowledge directly influences positive change in man, it indirectly uses the civilized man to make positive changes in the world. This impact of education affects every man irrespective of age, and moulds the society irrespective of region. However, education in Nigeria seems not to be pointing towards the realization of this or attaining the goal of education as can be seen from the indices of the dwindling academic performance of Nigerian students in West African Examination Council. This therefore becomes an awesome problem that poses a serious challenge to Nigeria and Nigerians. But what remains unclear is whether the government and the citizens are aware of the enormity of this problem, and if they are, what is the extent of this awareness for the problem of education in primary and secondary school level. The aim of this paper is to look into some of the reasons for deficiencies in academic performances of Nigerian students especially in the above mentioned levels of education and give some possible suggestions for the way forward.