In this article, I will discuss the obstacles that education technology faces in Nigeria and the potential for EdTech and pursuing a career in technology in Nigeria.

What Are the Problems Facing Technology and Education in Nigeria?

Adoption of EdTech in Nigeria

For hundreds of years, education has remained mostly unchanged. However, recent global events and technology are changing that. As smartphone penetration has expanded across Africa, so has the demand for EdTech platforms. This spread is evident in the reports from Global EdTech in 2022 on educational technology, which states that over 70% of all formal education programs will rely on EdTech solutions by 2027.

The coronavirus pandemic hastened its spread since most educational institutions in the continent closed down. EdTech adoption in Nigeria has a significant setback in that it is not readily accepted. This is because, traditionally, it is assumed that a person spending time on computers or phones is probably playing or good for nothing. Also, the tech ecosystem faces many hiccups due to its challenging environment.

Limited Career Opportunities in Technology

Another challenge facing EdTech is the preconception among African parents that anything involving the use of computers ends after the bachelor's degree. There is this widespread mentality in Nigeria that software development and graphic design programs cannot be studied at the graduate level and pursued as professional careers.

Parental Influence on Career Choices

This late-stage career switch could have been averted mainly if proper significance had been given to careers in tech at the early stages. It would go a long way in the growth and development of the nation if such calamities were prevented.

Another leading factor for this poor decision in a career choice is parental influence. While most of these parents are not in tandem with the current trends in career evolution and societal developments. These same parents view computers and other technological equipment as toys but not as tools for securing and ensuring a better and brighter future.

Outdated Curriculum in Nigerian Universities

In Nigerian universities, we have lecturers using handouts over two decades old. Nigeria's primary and secondary education curriculum was recently updated, but the same topics are still being shuffled around. There is no plan for the young, just recycling the old system. They need an opportunity to learn 21st-century skills necessary for them to remain relevant and compete on a global level.

Curriculum Restrictions in Nigerian Education

The basic education curriculum in Nigeria was designed such that introductory technology and integrated science will introduce new learners and future leaders to all aspects of science, engineering, and associated technical skills.

On the other hand, computer science is a different subject to show them how to use a computer and champion digital literacy. However, the design of this curriculum restricts career paths to just a few.

This restriction is reflected in the secondary school curriculum, where students must choose between science, arts, and commerce. Therefore, computer-based and highly sought-after career paths such as coding, user-experience design, data analytics, etc., have no space in the current curriculum design.

Lack of Exposure to Technical Career Paths

In an interdisciplinary world, being in an art class does not prevent you from excelling in technology. Still, students are disadvantaged because they realise the myriad career paths they could follow only during or after tertiary education. I am convinced that our world would be better if these young minds were exposed to these opportunities, especially in computer/technical career paths.

This conviction is based on the spectrum of learners at Verdac Academy, where I facilitate learning. Most students are already in the mid-stages of their careers, but due to their newfound knowledge and understanding, they are considering careers in new areas such as product design, data analytics, software development, etc.

Choosing a Technology Career for Financial Gain over Passion

Despite these odds, a few get to choose a career path in tech out of curiosity but only succeed with hard work and passion. My path to user experience design was also out of curiosity and passion, but most people see it as a means to wealth. This is true for any successful career but not advisable as a motivation for choosing a career. Most people who join the tech career path for money reasons but lack the passion end up regretting the decision.

This mindset reflects in most young people I met who are just starting this career path. They mostly ask questions about how soon they can achieve a six-figure salary when they barely know anything. Thus, many emerging designers lack problem-solving skills and other core ingredients of design and, in the long run, quit when their intention while starting does not deliver the results they expected.

What Are the Opportunities for Edtech in Nigeria?

Despite the challenges facing EdTech in Nigeria, there are also many opportunities for students, parents, teachers, government, and even startup ideas.

1. The government should prioritise education and allocate sufficient funding to ensure schools have the necessary technology to implement EdTech. As educational reformer John Dewey once said, "If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow." In other words, It is crucial to embrace technology in education now.

2. Incorporating educational technology-related resources in the curriculum can significantly impact student engagement and motivation. By providing students with interactive and up-to-date teaching materials, they will better understand technology's role in education.

3. Every student learns differently, so having access to learning materials in text, audio, and video formats caters to different learning styles. Edtech provides a means for students to access various educational resources, such as online courses, educational videos, and interactive simulations, irrespective of location or availability.

4. Exposing young ones to technology does not necessarily mean they have to pursue it as a career. However, in today's tech-driven world, early experience with technology can enhance their creativity, problem-solving, and way of thinking, allowing them to excel in other fields and careers.

   To prepare pupils for the modern world, private and public schools should work to incorporate technical skills like programming and other pertinent ones into their curricula. Organising tech boot camps or sessions to create awareness for students and parents on Children's Day is an excellent way to start.

5. There is a need to support teachers, lecturers, and educators with professional development resources such as webinars, training, and workshops to improve their skills and knowledge. This will promote continuous growth and development in the education system.

6. Developing solutions to reduce teachers' workload, tracking student progress more efficiently, delivering assessments and feedback more accurately, and allowing parents to monitor their children's school activities and performance are essential in improving the education system. These solutions will help educators to focus more on teaching and less on administrative tasks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the challenges of adopting educational technology and pursuing a career in technology in Nigeria stem from various factors, including a lack of understanding and acceptance of technology, limited career opportunities, outdated curriculum, parental influence, and a lack of resources and expert technical staff.

However, the potential for growth and development in technology is significant if it is recognised and supported from an early age. I envision a future where students are well-informed about the opportunities and requirements of a career in technology and can make informed decisions about their future.

Reference

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