The Interplay between Politics and Education in Nigeria: Any Symbiotic Relationship?

Abstract

Education takes actual visible form in educational systems.  They either are the work of states or are approved and supervised by them.  No educational system can escape from the political community in which if operates.  The system must reflect what the political community wants it to do.  The system can set formally to change the community only if the community includes change of this kind among its aims.  No doubt every educational system contains some germ of true education and is therefore likely to have side effects unexpected by and unwelcome to its sponsors.  To this end, this paper takes a critical look into the influence of politics on the educational system in Nigeria.  What good has emanated from the supposed symbiotic relationship between education and politics?  What harm has politics unleashed on education?  And what steps need be taken to straighten issues?  Answers to the aforementioned and allied questions are the main focus of this write-up.

Keywords: Politics, Education, Community, Symbiotic