Secondary School Tourism Education in Nigeria : Challenges and Possible Solutions

Abstract

Tourism as an industry cuts across other industries like transportation, travel agencies, airline operators, hospitality, catering services, and many others. Trained personnel are needed to manage these establishments for tourism development in Nigeria. The role of secondary education is to place the foundation for further education and if a good foundation is laid at this level, there are likely to be no problem at subsequent levels in the tourism industry. This paper recognized the good effort made by the Federal Government educational planners by introducing tourism studies in the secondary school curriculum. It is a challenge observing that the various schools do not have teachers to teach the tourism subject. That the facilities and relevant books are not available for the subject. Students undergoing National Certificate of Education studies and those offering degree courses in education in the universities should be made to take courses in tourism that will be impacted to the students at the secondary school levels. The National Youth Corps Members who read Bachelor in Science (B.Sc) or Bachelor in Art (B.A) in tourism at the University and also those with Higher National Degree (HND) in tourism at the Polytechnic could be made to serve in secondary schools where they can impact some knowledge of tourism to secondary school students. It is also important to the need to accept the students’ WAEC (West Africa Examination Council) Tourism Ordinary Level Result for admission into the University. Many Universities are yet to accept this as a requirement for admission for University degree. 

Keywords: Tourism, Education, Secondary education, Challenges, Solution