review-of-the-literature-on-basic-education-in-nigeria-june-2014-3-1

Review <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>literature</strong> on basic education in Nigeria5.5.2 Child mortalityIt was Caldwell’s study in 1979 based on Nigerian data that highlighted <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>r’seducation in reducing child mortality. The 2008 NDHS data support <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>ory that female educationcan improve child health outcomes – neonatal, infant, child, and under-five mortality are all lower forwomen with higher levels <strong>of</strong> education. More educated women have children with higher birth weight,space <strong>the</strong>ir births more, are more likely to vaccinate <strong>the</strong>ir children and use appropriate treatment formalaria and diarrhoea, have appropriate hygiene practices and feeding practices, and are less likely tohave malnourished children (NPC and ICF Macro 2009).The pathways through which <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>r’s education reduce child mortality in Nigeria were explored bySmith-Greenaway (2013), who found that maternal literacy (measured through <strong>the</strong> simple NEDS onesentencereading test) explains most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> relationship between schooling and child mortality. Adeoti(2009) showed that female schooling increases demand for child vaccinations (based on 2003/04 NLSSdata).5.5.3 Parent and child educationThe educational level <strong>of</strong> one or both parents has been found to be an important indicator <strong>of</strong> whe<strong>the</strong>r ornot a child is likely to be in school. Akyeampong et al.’s (2009) analysis <strong>of</strong> four states found that childrenwho were in school had parents that have more than twice as much schooling as parents <strong>of</strong> childrenwho were out <strong>of</strong> school. Similarly, Okpukpara and Odurukwe’s (2006) analysis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 2001 FOS/ILO childlabour survey data also showed that children from households whose mo<strong>the</strong>r or fa<strong>the</strong>r had secondaryor higher education were more likely to be in school.Kazeem et al. (2010) estimated a model <strong>of</strong> school attendance based on household characteristics takenfrom 2004 NDHS data; after controlling for various factors including wealth and location, <strong>the</strong>y found thatparents’ education at primary level has a positive impact on school attendance, although higher levels <strong>of</strong>education do not increase this any fur<strong>the</strong>r.Lincove (2009) looked at <strong>the</strong> NDHS 2004 data and found that, controlling for o<strong>the</strong>r determinants <strong>of</strong>school attendance, <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>r’s education is statistically significantly positively correlated with schoolattendance.5.5.4 Adult literacy and schoolingHowever, <strong>the</strong> low levels <strong>of</strong> adult literacy in many parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> country, even on <strong>the</strong> part <strong>of</strong> those whohave completed primary education, for example, raise questions about what exactly it is about schoolingthat explains <strong>the</strong> effects mentioned above.Since <strong>the</strong> 2010 literacy survey (NBS 2010) gave figures based on self-reported data that are considerablyhigher than any <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> available assessment data, it is probably better to consider <strong>the</strong> 2010 NEDSfigures, even though, as highlighted earlier, <strong>the</strong>ir limited literacy test provides an overestimation <strong>of</strong>functional literacy. The 2010 NEDS found that, among <strong>the</strong> parents and guardians surveyed, around 55%were literate, with figures ranging widely according to age (older people were less likely to be able toread), urban or rural location (rural 48% and urban 76%) and geographical zone (39% in <strong>the</strong> North Westand North East but 75% in <strong>the</strong> South South) (NPC and RTI International 2011). There was little differenceat <strong>the</strong> national level according to gender, although figures had dropped for men from 59% in 2004 to55% in 2010 (ibid.)In terms <strong>of</strong> schooling, 62 % <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> survey’s parent/guardian population had completed primary or higherlevels <strong>of</strong> schooling; 41% <strong>of</strong> men and 35% <strong>of</strong> women had never attended school. Rural/urban andEDOREN – Education Data, Research and Evaluation in Nigeria 53