Differences between Secondary Education in Nigeria and Ghana

• Do you know the differences between secondary education in Nigeria and Ghana?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the education systems of Nigeria and Ghana?

Nigeria and Ghana, two West African states, share many commonalities and engage in extensive debates on a wide range of topics, including music, musicians, football, and Jollof rice. However, when it comes to education, Ghana and Nigeria, as members of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), engage in intense competition and rivalry at the WASSCE examination, which WAEC organizes for five member states.

In this well-researched article, we take a critical look at secondary education in Nigeria and Ghana and then appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of both to help both countries work on improving their wins and deal with their weaknesses.

Do you know that Nigeria presents the highest number of WASSCE candidates each year for the WASSCE for school candidates?

The framework and syllabus for secondary education in both Nigeria and Ghana

Secondary Education in Nigeria

Nigeria boasts a robust secondary education system at the pretertiary level, divided into two broad, distinct sections. It has the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS).

Students at the JSS spend three years in school, and then once they enrol at the senior secondary school, they spend another three years getting ready for the university. Thus, secondary education in Nigeria is 6 years.

The secondary school curriculum introduces and studies subjects like English, mathematics, and integrated science in JSS.

However, when they were later admitted into senior secondary Secondary School, they studied specialised subjects in science, arts, or commercial streams, which prepared them for work and/or university education.

Secondary Education in Ghana

Ghana, like Nigeria, divides secondary education into two parts. Ghana has the junior high schools, which are Nigeria’s JSS, and the senior high school, which is the same as SSS in Nigerian. On paper, both junior high and senior high last three years, but Ghana’s SHS actually lasts 2.5 years rather than three years.

At the JHS level, students study subjects such as English, mathematics, integrated science, social studies, and creative arts and design. However, the SHS provides learners the chance to study programmes such as general arts, general science, business, visual arts, home economics, and chnical/vocational p programmes in ndary-technical sch schools.

We offer examination and certification services in Nigeria and Ghana.

Examinations and certifications in Nigeria

While students in Nigeria’s junior secondary schools write the junior secondary certificate examination (JSCE), also known as junior WAEC, at the end of JSS, Ghana’s students at the same level write the basic education certificate examination (BECE) at the end of JHS. This results in BECE or JSCE certificates being awarded to students who pass the examination each year.

At the senior secondary school level, both Ghana and Nigeria write the WAEC’s WASSCE, which is the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Nigeria and Ghana use English as their language of instruction

Ghana and Nigeria use the English language as the official language of instruction; however, in both countries, there are education policies that require the use of the mother tongue of local languages as a means of instruction in the early years of learning up to class three in basic school.

The strengths and weaknesses of secondary education in Nigeria and Ghana are worth examining.

Strengths and Weaknesses in Nigeria

Nigeria’s education system has a diverse curriculum. This allows learners to learn a wide range of subjects, including and assisting them in choosing from a variety of interests and career paths.

Again, the Nigerian states and central government have made significant efforts to increase access to secondary education in all states for its huge, growing young adult population.

In Nigeria, education also focuses on the use and introduction of technology. The integration of technology into education is bringing about improvements in the education sector.

The secondary education system suffers from several weaknesses.

1. Quality of Education: There is a disparity in the quality of education between urban and rural areas.
2. Infrastructure: Many schools lack adequate infrastructure and resources.
3. Teacher Training: We need to improve teacher training and professional development.

Strengths and Weaknesses in Ghana

Ghana can boast of its Free SHS policy as a strength. Under this policy, the government covers all tuition, boarding, and feeding fees for students who complete junior high school, pass the BECE, and enroll in senior high school. Its policy covers all learners in secondary, vocational, and technical schools owned and managed by the government. The government also pays their WASSCE exam fees.

The government also covers the examination fees for BECE candidates who are public school students participating in the WAEC-organized examination each year.

Ghana is continuously updating and improving its curriculum reforms, and the 2024-2025 academic year will see the introduction of a new curriculum for SHS. These are meant to ensure that there is an improved curriculum to meet current educational needs.

Ghana implements a mandatory national service program for teachers, which aids in the distribution of new graduates from its education colleges, where basic school teachers receive training.

The shortcomings of secondary education exist in both Nigeria and Ghana.

Ghana and Nigeria seem to be suffering the same challenges in their quest to improve education and its related outcomes.

The main issue has to do with funding. Insufficient funding causes resource constraints in schools. Delays in teacher postings and inadequate facilities in schools and classrooms continue to pose significant obstacles to education.

Teacher shortages and brain drain are common challenges in both countries, resulting from low incomes and a lack of motivation and opportunities for many who have completed their education but have not been posted by the government. They travel to places like the UK and Asia in search of greener pastures.

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Both Nigeria and Ghana have made significant strides in improving secondary education, but they also face similar challenges such as disparities in quality, infrastructure issues, and the need for better teacher training. Ghana’s introduction of free SHS is a notable strength, while Nigeria‘s diverse curriculum offers students more choices. Addressing these challenges and building on their strengths will be crucial for the continued improvement of secondary education in both countries.