national development

Researchers have explained the emigration of Nigerian teachers, popularly termed japa, mainly through low remuneration and insecurity, while giving less attention to access to professional development and career progression. This study examined the professional development and career opportunities available to Nigerian nursery and primary school teachers in Nigeria and abroad, and how these are linked to the decision to migrate. A mixed-methods design was adopted. The study analysed the quantitative responses from 384 teachers in Nigeria and 20 teachers in the diaspora using means, standard deviations, and percentages. The study also thematically analysed semi-structured interviews with eight teachers (four in Nigeria and four in the United Kingdom and Canada). Teachers in Nigeria reported some exposure to professional development, but only 44% agreed that it was sufficient and 39% that it was affordable, although they indicated that most came from private schools and external organisations rather than from government. Teachers abroad reported greater access to professional development, often free and mandatory, and 80% agreed that they did not feel limited in their career advancement. However, only 40% agreed that they had experienced better career growth, and the interviews showed that visa conditions and the absence of Qualified Teacher Status confined some teachers to support roles. Professional development and certifications also functioned as a pathway to migration: the interview revealed that two of the teachers in Nigeria were preparing to leave through courses and certification, and three of the four teachers abroad had migrated in order to study. The findings suggest that limited professional development operates as a push factor and that certifications provide the route out. It was recommended that affordable and sustainable professional development should be provided for teachers in Nigeria.

Since independence in 1963, Kenya has pursued educational reforms intended to align schooling and training with its social, economic, and political development priorities. This study traces the evolution of these reforms from the Ominde Commission of 1964 to the introduction of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in 2017 and examines their relationship with national development. A qualitative document review was employed to analyze reform trajectories across primary, secondary, technical and vocational, university, and examination systems. The review also considered policies concerning free primary and secondary education, bursary and scholarship schemes, and gender affirmative action, focusing on their implications for access, equity, and educational quality. The findings indicate that successive reforms have consistently positioned education as a means of promoting national unity, preparing the workforce, and strengthening civic participation. These priorities reflect the role assigned to education in advancing social cohesion, economic productivity, and political development. However, the translation of policy commitments into practice has remained constrained by inadequate funding, limitations in teacher capacity, and insufficient infrastructure. These implementation gaps restrict the extent to which educational reforms can achieve their intended developmental outcomes. The analysis emphasizes the importance of examining policy design alongside the resources and institutional capacity required for implementation. Sustained investment in teacher preparation and professional development, educational infrastructure, and systematic monitoring is necessary to strengthen reform delivery. The study concludes that education can contribute more durably to national development when policy ambitions are supported by consistent investment and implementation capacity. Its historical and policy perspective provides a basis for policymakers and educational stakeholders to assess reform priorities and strengthen connections between educational change and Kenya’s development goals.

The paper draws on participatory development, social justice, and decolonization frameworks, emphasizing inclusive development as a tool to address historical and ongoing exclusions. Using a desktop qualitative literature review, the paper collected secondary data from publicly available sources. The paper uses case studies from South Africa and other African nations to illustrate the successful implementation of the identified guides, demonstrating how they align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2023 (SDGs), the African Union Agenda 2063, and the South African National Development Plan 2030 (NDP). Thematic content analysis is employed; the paper identifies five key themes and proposes five key guides for advancing inclusive community development in Africa. The main argument the paper maintains is that Participatory Action Research (PAR) empowers marginalized communities to identify issues and co-create solutions. The paper concludes by proposing a shift in Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) to prioritize inclusivity and equitable participation.

این مقاله با بهره‌گیری از چارچوب‌های توسعه مشارکتی، عدالت اجتماعی و استعمارزدایی، بر توسعهٔ فراگیر به عنوان ابزاری برای مقابله با طردهای تاریخی و جاری تأکید می‌کند. با استفاده از مرور کیفی ادبیات به روش دِسکتاپ، داده‌های ثانویه از منابع عمومی گردآوری شده‌است. مقاله با بهره‌گیری از مطالعات موردی از آفریقای جنوبی و سایر کشورهای آفریقایی، اجرای موفق راهنماهای شناسایی‌شده را نشان می‌دهد و تبیین می‌کند که این راهنماها چگونه با اهداف توسعه پایدار سازمان ملل متحد 2023 (SDGs)، دستورکار 2063 اتحادیه آفریقا و برنامه توسعه ملی آفریقای جنوبی 2030 (NDP) هم‌راستا هستند. تحلیل محتوای تماتیک به کار رفته و مقاله پنج تم کلیدی را شناسایی و پنج راهنمای اساسی برای پیشبرد توسعه جامعه‌محور فراگیر در آفریقا پیشنهاد می‌کند. استدلال اصلی مقاله این است که پژوهش مشارکتی عمل‌محور (PAR) به جوامع به حاشیه رانده‌شده قدرت می‌دهد تا مسائل را شناسایی و راه‌حل‌ها را به صورت مشترک خلق کنند. مقاله در پایان پیشنهاد می‌کند که برنامه‌های توسعه یکپارچه (IDPs) باید اولویت را به فراگیری و مشارکت عادلانه بدهند.

This paper explores the critical role of early childhood education in Mathematics and Computer Science as foundational pillars for national development. In the 21st century, the global demand for technologically literate and analytically competent citizens underscores the need to begin STEM education at an early stage. The study highlights how cognitive development in young learners can be enhanced through early exposure to problem-solving, logical reasoning, and computational thinking. Drawing upon existing literature, educational theories, and policy frameworks, this paper presents evidence-based arguments for integrating structured Mathematics and Computer Science curricula at the foundational level. It examines the challenges faced in implementing these programs, particularly in developing nations, and proposes strategic solutions involving teacher training, curriculum redesign, and stakeholder collaboration. The paper concludes that effective early childhood Mathematics and Computer Science education not only fosters individual cognitive growth but also catalyzes innovation, economic empowerment, and sustainable national development.

این مقاله به بررسی نقش حیاتی آموزش دوران کودکی در حوزه ریاضیات و علوم کامپیوتر به‌عنوان ارکان بنیادین توسعه ملی می‌پردازد. در قرن بیست‌ویکم، نیاز جهانی به شهروندانی با سواد فناورانه و توانمند از نظر تحلیلی، ضرورت آغاز آموزش STEM از سنین پایین را برجسته می‌کند. این مطالعه نشان می‌دهد که چگونه رشد شناختی در یادگیرندگان خردسال از طریق مواجهه زودهنگام با حل مسئله، استدلال منطقی و تفکر محاسباتی تقویت می‌شود. با بهره‌گیری از ادبیات موجود، نظریه‌های آموزشی و چارچوب‌های سیاست‌گذاری، این مقاله استدلال‌هایی مبتنی بر شواهد برای ادغام برنامه‌های درسی ساختارمند ریاضیات و علوم کامپیوتر در سطح پایه ارائه می‌دهد. همچنین چالش‌های پیش‌روی اجرای این برنامه‌ها، به‌ویژه در کشورهای در حال توسعه، را بررسی کرده و راهکارهای راهبردی شامل آموزش معلمان، بازطراحی برنامه درسی و همکاری ذینفعان را پیشنهاد می‌کند. مقاله نتیجه می‌گیرد که آموزش مؤثر ریاضیات و علوم کامپیوتر در دوران کودکی نه‌تنها رشد شناختی فردی را تقویت می‌کند، بلکه موجب نوآوری، توانمندسازی اقتصادی و توسعه پایدار ملی می‌شود.