Enhancing Human Capital Efficiency in the Nigeria Educational Sector

Abstract

The role of human capital in economic development has been a frequent theme in the theoretical and applied literature. The belief of policy makers that human capital is a key contributor to economic development has led, virtually everywhere in the developing world, to the provision of subsidised education. Human capital resource performance in education is still underestimated, however, it is central in educational development in Nigeria. Nigerian leaders should pay close attention to the needs of the educational sector, and treat it as a public-health issue, because the sociopolitical and economic development of a nation and (or her health) is, in many ways, determined by the quality and level of educational attainment of the population.

Teachers have poor quality of life which could however significantly impede teachers’ efficiency and even educational efficiency and development. Inadequate teacher quality, teacher inadequacy in relation to teacher - pupil ratio, lack of specialisation, and constraints affecting teacher performance such as gender streamlining; non-conducive teaching – learning environment, unfavourable attitudinal disposition; inadequate remuneration and lack of constant improvement programmes, low self esteem of teachers, lack of motivation, lack of self development leave, and most especially bad maintenance culture of the Nigerian educational human resources are all impediments to the human resource efficiency in the Nigeria educational sector. There is a dare need to address these constraints, since educational delivery and effective educational development of a nation is strictly tied to an enhanced and efficient human resource development for education in Nigeria.

Keywords: Human Capital Efficiency; Nigerian Education; Teacher performance