Bridging the Gaps in Nigeria Education: Blending Practices of Education Systems of America and Japan for Global Competitiveness

Abstract

The major purpose of this paper was to identify the gaps in the Nigerian educational system by comparing its system with those of two industrialized giants (United States of America and Japan), and to suggest ways to bridge the gaps for the purpose of global competitiveness and integration. The paper identified the following gaps: funding, education control, access to education, school entry and graduation age, period for long holidays, number of hours students stay in school per day, teacher welfare and salary, teacher training for effective job performance, teacher supervision for effective job performance, quality of teachers employed, equality of education for all children and school exchange programme. The paper suggested how the gaps could be bridged for the Nigerian school system to effectively compete with the school systems of great nations. It was concluded that these gaps in the Nigerian educational system may be responsible for the low literacy level in Nigeria.