Ngozi Comfort Omojunikanbi Ph.D
In Nigeria, the media, ethics and educational system are interconnected and crucial to the country’s development. The word ethics comes from the Greek word ‘ethos’, which means character. Ethics is a subject that seeks to use rational and systematic principles, values and norms to determine what is good or bad, correct or incorrect, right or wrong, as far as human action is concerned. The media which refers to the print, radio, television, cinema and the internet reach out to a large number of people. The media revolves around society because people provides the news and are the recipients of the news. The media are avenues or instruments of awareness creation and as a result should be concerned with promoting ethical decision making and behavior , including that of the educational systems in Nigeria. It is characterizes by both private and state-owned media organizations. The media and educational systems face challenges in promoting ethics and accountability. Addressing ethical practices within the media industry can also have a positive impact on the educational system in Nigeria as the media plays a vital role in the educational system of Nigeria.
The importance of education in a society cannot be over emphasized as education contributes in ensuring that a nation’s need for labour force is satisfied. Education is the key to sustainable developmental strides in any nation. Nigeria as a nation values education and describes education as an instrument for national development and social change. Education according to scholars is the socialization of the younger generation, a continuous effort to impose on the child’s ways of seeing, feeling and acting, which he could not have arrived at spontaneously. The purpose of all education is therefore to develop the individual, and in effect, bring about significant changes in the people’s standard of living or quality of life.
Education in Nigeria, according to the National Policy on Education, is to serve as an instrument ‘par excellence’ for national development. Education could be formal, informal or non-formal. Formal education could be categorized by types or levels. Types of education includes teacher education, technical/vocational education, agricultural education and training etc. The common levels of education are early childhood education, primary education, secondary education and tertiary education.
The general goals of education in Nigeria;
– The development of the individual into a morally sound, patriotic and effective citizen.
– Total integration of the individual into the immediate community, the Nigerian society and the world.
– Provision of equal access to qualitative educational opportunities for all citizens at all levels of education within and outside the formal school systems
– Inculcation of national consciousness, values and national unity.
– Development of appropriate skills, mental, physical and social, abilities and competencies to empower the individual to live and contribute positively to the development of the society.
Media ethics in Nigeria
– The Nigerian media landscape is diverse with various outlets, including newspapers, radio stations, television channels, and online platforms,
– Journalists in Nigeria adhere to media ethics, which include accuracy, fairness, objectivity, and protecting source.
– Regulatory bodies like the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) oversee media practices and enforce ethical standards.
– However, challenges like nepotism, and government interference hinder the effectiveness or these regulatory bodies.
Ethics in Nigerian educational system
– The Nigerian educational system faces ethical challenges, including corruption, bribery and plagiarism.
– Teacher education programs emphasize the importance of ethics and professionalism.
– Regulatory bodies and training institutions are working to promote ethical standards and accountability in teacher education.
Impact of media on education
– The media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion and promoting education.
– Journalists can contribute to educational development by reporting on issues that affect the education sector.
– Sensationalism and fake news, however, can have negative consequences on education and society in general.
Recommendation(s)
– Regulatory bodies like NPC and NBC should be strengthened.
– Ethics courses should be incorporated in teacher education programs.
– Accountability, transparency and integrity should be encouraged in both media and education.***
