RELEVANCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN NIGERIA.

The need for early child education on the education ladder can never be overemphasized as it forms the strong foundation upon which other levels are built. The child at this stage is encouraged to learn and develop the language of the environment, where he or she meets other children in school. Early child education encourages the child towards developing; creative thinking and always inquisitive to participate in meaningful learning will take place.

At that early stage the child learns to abide by simple rules and regulations which prepare him to be disciplined in his later life. Early stimulation experiences such as storytelling, songs, games exploratory play, tender loving care, good health and nutrition support the total development of the child at this stage in his life.

The falling standard of education at the primary and secondary school levels has attracted a lot of concern to educators and they continue to search for appropriate methods of making lesson presentation vivid, meaningful and permanent for school children. Teachers often complain of lack of instructional materials and as a result they continue to pass verbal information to their pupils whether or not they understand.

Gone are the days when children must be six years and above before they start attending primary school, today it is not the case, the introduction of early child care centre’s/nursery schools is the major transformation to meet up with the contemporary needs of the changing society which education has been undergoing towards the improvement of the standard of education.

In Nigeria there are just a few day cares centre’s but quite a number of private early child care centers and nursery schools which are very expensive and the common man is left with no choice but to keep his children at home until they reach ages of five and six before they can start primary education, which is the development stage of a child as he or she grows to be an adult.

Early stimulation refers to experiences that foster the total development of a child; early stimulation makes the child to become more aware of self, others and his immediate environment. The mental, social, physical and spiritual development of the child make up his or her healthy condition hence should be sustained by parents, teachers and caregivers. Early stimulation include experiences such as storytelling, songs, games, exploratory play , body message, tender loving care, good health and nutrition promote early stimulation experiences.

Now the dwindling standard of education in our primary and some of our secondary schools has become of a big concern to parents, stakeholders and the government. This big problem is as a result of no other thing than the inability of the pupils to read comprehensively and write.

This problem is carried to Junior Secondary School classes 1, 2 and 3 thus affecting the general performance of the child with the introduction of public nursery schools which the federal government through its UBE scheme emphasizes on the commitment of the teachers and those in the education sector to revive the past glory of education in Nigeria. We should arm our society with knowledge, education and enlightenment. With these at hand the safety of our future and that of our children will be secured.