Basic education is the core of a sound educational foundation. It is the major step towards building a sound mental system for young learners within the age range of 6 years to 14 years.
Basic education is the foundation upon which other levels of education are built and a necessary requirement for human and national progress. It is fundamental for human and national development. It brings growth and development to the young ones\’ intellectual capacity as well as their morals, attitudes, and how they relate to those around them.
The importance of Basic Education is seen in the future of the Country because future leaders are products of a qualitative educational system. The foundation speaks of a strong building and if the foundation is lacking in the necessary quality materials then the building will tend to fall this applies to children at the primary level who needs a strong educational foundation so that in the long run it would be beneficial to themselves and the nation.
5 Importance of Basic Education in Nigeria
1. Reduces Illiteracy
Basic education helps to drastically reduce the rate of illiteracy in society by equipping young learners with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to cope with everyday societal issues.
Learning how to read, write and perform simple arithmetic calculations which is part of the day-to-day activities of everyday life has great importance to both the learner and the country at large. Children in Nigeria could hugely benefit from using laptops for online classes since it will give them equal opportunities to participate in the educational process.
2. Improves Communication Skills
The importance of Basic education is seen in how it helps to inculcate in young learners how to interact and relate with people around them, the school is the best platform where children from different backgrounds come together under one umbrella to receive basic teachings that would impact them positively.
3. Rights of the Child
Basic education helps to enlighten young learners on their rights. It helps eradicate the gender inequality issue which gives the male gender advantage over the female.
Basic education ensures that every child irrespective of their sex, age, ethnic or religious inclinations, language or status has a free, universal, and compulsory basic education that would see to a more civilized nation.
It reduces child labor, child trafficking and enables every child to be able to stand up for themselves and not be subjugated to any form of child abuse from society at large.
4. Improved Learning Skills
Basic education helps to improve the learning skills of young learners on key subjects that would be of great importance to them in the future. Improved learning skills thereby raises creativity and productivity which would develop the society.
5. Impact on Democracy
Basic education helps to impact on democracy, human rights, governance and political stability through increased understanding of non-violent ways to solve problems and mutual understanding between groups in conflict.