Synergizing Formal and Informal Education Curricular for Sustainable Quality Education in Nigeria

Abstract

Contemporarily, Nigeria pays for the price of unemployment that is occasioned by thousands of hundreds of graduates produced annually that could not be absorbed by the labour market either due to lack of skills or competitiveness of the few job opportunities out there. This paper advocates for creating synergy between both formal and informal education curricular so that students could be equipped with relevant skills that could transform them from job seekers to job creators for overall national economic growth and development. The paper examines the practical strategies for creating and improving synergy between the formal and informal education in curriculum design such as leveraging on educational technologies, integrating informal learning experiences into formal curricula, fostering collaboration and partnerships, and promoting learner-centred approaches to instruction. Further, the paper justifies the benefits of employing these strategies such as enhancing learner engagement, enhancing learner motivation, promoting lifelong learning, fostering critical thinking skills, and facilitating the application of knowledge in real-world contexts. Moreover, the challenges associated with this synergy includes lack of recognition and assessment of informal learning, limited resources, and potential resistance from traditional educational institutions. Lastly, the paper recommends the need for continuous research and development to explore best pedagogical approaches, technological tools, and policy frameworks that can best support the successful integration of informal and formal education for a sustainable quality education in Nigeria.