RE-ENGINEERING THE NIGERIAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM FOR SUSTAINABLE CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
Ezenwanne, Dorothy Nkem & Chike Rose
Home Economics Department
Nwafor Orizu College of Education in Affiliation with University of Nigeria Nsukka
Abstract
Literature has documented the importance of problem solving, ecologically relevant education, project based and interactive education as the basis for sustainable development. A powerful set of neuroscientific and economic evidence over the last 20 years now shows that early childhood is a critical stage of human development. The foundations of brain architecture and functioning, and subsequent lifelong developmental potential, are laid down in the early years in a process that is exquisitely sensitive to external influence. In the light of these premises, this paper emphasized the need to re-engineer Nigerian educational system for sustainable childhood development, the paper considered child development and related indices of re-engineered educational system, relationship between child educational development and sustainable development. It further pointed out some relevant challenges for sustainable development and then proffered strategies to be adopted for sustainable development in childhood education. There is therefore an urgent need to increase multisectoral coverage of quality programming that incorporates health, nutrition, security and safety, responsive caregiving, and early learning. Equitable early childhood policies and programmes are crucial for meeting Sustainable Development Goals, and for children to develop the intellectual skills, creativity, and wellbeing required to become healthy and productive adults.