Lecture Notes
Lecture Notes
often overlap in
practice. Here's a clear explanation to help you differentiate the two:
---
This refers to the systematic steps analysts or researchers use to evaluate policy problems and options
before a decision is made. It is more technical and evidence-based, often used by policy analysts,
advisors, or consultants.
🔹 Key Features:
Heavily relies on data, tools, and models (like cost-benefit analysis, stakeholder analysis, etc.).
🔹 Main Steps:
1. Problem definition
> 📌 Example: An education policy analyst evaluates different strategies to reduce dropout rates (e.g.,
scholarships, feeding programmes) using data and cost-effectiveness analysis.
---
🔹 Key Features:
🔹 Main Steps:
1. Problem identification
2. Agenda setting
3. Policy formulation
4. Policy adoption
5. Policy implementation
6. Policy evaluation
> 📌 Example: The Ministry of Education drafts a new national curriculum policy, gets it approved by the
Federal Executive Council, and begins implementation in schools.
---
Carried out by policy analysts Carried out by government officials and politicians
Often a subprocess within policy formulation Encompasses the entire journey from idea to action
---
✅ Conclusion:
Policy analytic processes are tools within the broader policy formation process.
You can think of policy analysts as advisors, while policy formation involves decision-makers and
institutions putting policies into action.
---
Would you like a classroom comparison worksheet or a visual diagram to show the difference more
clearly?
Excellent. Here’s a refined and practical version of the lecture notes on Processes of Policy Formation
and Levels of Policy-Making in the Education Sector in Nigeria, using real-life and existing examples at
the local, state, and federal levels.
---
✅ Lecture Notes: Policy Formation and Levels of Policy-Making in Nigeria’s Education Sector (With Real
Examples)
---
Policy formation in education follows six major steps. Each step is explained with real-life Nigerian
examples for clarity:
---
1. Problem Identification
Example:
High numbers of out-of-school children in northern Nigeria prompted public concern and UNICEF
reports in recent years.
---
2. Agenda Setting
The issue gains national or state-level attention and is placed on the agenda of decision-makers.
Example:
The Federal Ministry of Education and development partners organized summits to address out-of-
school children, prompting policy actions like the Almajiri Education Programme (initiated during
President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration).
---
3. Policy Formulation
Government officials, education experts, and stakeholders develop possible solutions through
consultations and research.
Example:
In response to low enrolment and literacy, the Federal Government formulated the Universal Basic
Education (UBE) Programme in 1999, proposing free and compulsory basic education for children aged
6–15.
---
4. Policy Adoption
The preferred solution is approved through legislation, executive action, or administrative directive.
Example:
The Universal Basic Education Act (2004) was passed by the National Assembly, making basic education
a legal right and a duty of government to provide.
---
5. Policy Implementation
Agencies carry out the policy through budgeting, infrastructure, recruitment, and monitoring.
Example:
The State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) and Local Government Education Authorities
(LGEAs) implement the UBE programme by building classrooms, hiring teachers, and distributing
learning materials.
---
6. Policy Evaluation
Government or independent bodies assess whether the policy is achieving its objectives.
Example:
Annual education sector performance reviews and reports by UBEC and international partners help
assess enrolment trends, literacy levels, and school completion rates.
---
Education policy is shaped and implemented at three government levels, each with its distinct roles:
---
Responsibility:
Real Example:
In many LGAs across states like Ogun and Kano, LGEAs support the National Home-Grown School
Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) by supervising food vendors and ensuring pupils in public primary schools
get daily meals.
---
Responsibility:
Coordinates with UBEC for funding and ensures education laws are enforced.
Real Example:
Kaduna State implemented free and compulsory basic education from Primary 1 to JSS3 under Governor
Nasir El-Rufai, including the abolition of school fees and provision of uniforms and books.
Lagos State developed the EkoEXCEL (Excellence in Child Education and Learning) digital learning
programme to improve teaching quality in public primary schools using tablets and real-time
monitoring.
---
Responsibility:
Real Examples:
The National Policy on Education (NPE) guides the entire education system and is reviewed periodically
by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The Federal Government launched the TETFund (Tertiary Education Trust Fund) to finance infrastructure
and research in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
It also operates JAMB for university entrance exams, and WAEC/NECO for secondary school certification.
---
📌 Summary of Key Roles at Each Level
---
✅ Conclusion
Policy formation in Nigeria’s education sector is a multi-step process involving identifying problems,
developing solutions, adopting them formally, and evaluating results. Real-life programmes like UBE,
EkoEXCEL, and the Almajiri initiative show how different levels of government interact to shape and
deliver education policy.
---
Absolutely! Here's a detailed, practical explanation of the difference between Policy Analytic Processes
and Policy Formation Processes, including real-life Nigerian examples and definitions of each level of
government (local, state, federal) within the education sector context.
---
✅ Are Policy Analytic Processes and Policy Formation Processes the Same?
No. They are closely related but not the same. Below is a breakdown with real-life education-sector
examples.
---
🔹 1. Policy Analytic Processes
Definition:
Policy analytic processes refer to the systematic, research-based steps used to define problems,
compare options, and make evidence-based policy recommendations. It is analytical, not political.
These steps are usually carried out by policy analysts, education experts, NGOs, or consultants to guide
policymakers.
Typical Steps:
---
Problem: Many children were dropping out of school due to hunger and poverty.
Analysts' Work:
Recommended school meals as the most efficient way to keep children in school.
> Result: This analysis influenced the design of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme
(NHGSFP), later adopted and implemented by the Federal Government.
---
Definition:
Policy formation is the broader political and institutional process through which a government identifies
issues, develops policies, adopts them officially, and implements them.
This process is led by government officials, not analysts. It involves agenda setting, drafting, debating,
passing laws, and implementation.
Typical Steps:
1. Problem Identification
2. Agenda Setting
3. Policy Formulation
4. Policy Adoption
5. Policy Implementation
6. Policy Evaluation
---
Formation Process:
The National Assembly debated and passed the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act in 2004.
The policy was implemented through UBEC and SUBEBs in all states.
> This shows how a problem moved from idea to formal government action through the policy
formation process.
---
Each level of government plays a role in education policy-making and implementation. Here's a brief
definition of each level and real examples:
---
Definition:
The local government is the third tier of government responsible for managing primary education and
grassroots policy implementation through the Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs).
Example:
In Nasarawa LGA, LGEAs support the school feeding programme by monitoring food vendors and
ensuring public primary school pupils receive meals under the NHGSFP.
---
Definition:
The state government is the second tier of government responsible for junior and senior secondary
education. It designs and enforces policies through the State Ministry of Education and SUBEB.
Example:
In Kaduna State, the government introduced free and compulsory education up to senior secondary
school, built schools, and eliminated school fees to improve access.
---
Definition:
The federal government is the highest level of government, responsible for national education policy,
tertiary education, and funding national programmes through agencies like UBEC, NUC, TETFund, and
others.
Example:
The Federal Ministry of Education formulated the National Policy on Education, revised regularly. It also
oversees WAEC, NECO, JAMB, and funds universities through TETFund.
---
Policy analysis often takes place within the policy formation process — especially at the formulation and
evaluation stages.
---
✅ Conclusion:
Policy Analytic Process A technical, research-driven process for evaluating policy options
Analysts, researchers, NGOs Cost-effectiveness study for school feeding
Policy Formation Process A government-led political and administrative process of turning ideas
into laws and actions Government, legislators, ministries Passage and implementation of the UBE
Act (2004)
They are interconnected but not the same — one focuses on "what should be done", and the other on
"how to make it happen."
---
Would you like a diagram or classroom worksheet to help your students compare the two?
Certainly! Here's a clear explanation of the difference between policy analytic processes and policy
formation processes, using real-life education-sector examples in Nigeria, and also including definitions
of the local, state, and federal levels of government — all in narrative format with no tables:
---
✅ Are Policy Analytic Processes and Policy Formation Processes the Same?
---
Definition:
Policy analytic processes refer to the technical, research-based steps used to study a public problem,
weigh possible solutions, and recommend the best course of action based on evidence. This process is
often done by policy analysts, education experts, researchers, NGOs, or consultants who advise
government decision-makers.
It is about asking:
Real-life example:
In Nigeria, when the Federal Government considered ways to reduce school dropouts among children
from poor families, education analysts studied the causes and tested solutions. Their analysis showed
that hunger was a key reason for absenteeism. They compared several options, including giving cash to
families, free books, and school meals. Based on cost-effectiveness analysis, they recommended school
feeding. This led to the adoption of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.
---
Definition:
Policy formation refers to the broader political and governmental process through which ideas are
turned into official public policies by government bodies such as the Ministry of Education, legislators,
and the executive. This includes identifying a problem, placing it on the agenda, formulating a solution,
adopting it through legal or administrative action, implementing it, and later evaluating it.
It is about asking:
2. Agenda setting by putting the issue into public discourse or government plans
The Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act of 2004 is a product of policy formation. The Federal
Government recognized the problem of low access to basic education. The issue was brought into
national focus. The Ministry of Education and other stakeholders formulated a draft policy. The National
Assembly passed the UBE Act, making 9 years of education (primary to junior secondary) free and
compulsory. It was then implemented by agencies like UBEC and state SUBEBs.
---
Policy analytic processes often feed into policy formation. Analysts provide the evidence and
recommend the best options. Then, government decision-makers use this information during the policy
formation process to decide what action to take. So, policy analysis informs policy formation, but they
are not the same thing.
---
Definition:
The local government is the third tier of government in Nigeria. In education, its main responsibility is to
oversee primary education, especially at the grassroots, through Local Government Education
Authorities (LGEAs).
Example:
A local government, through its LGEA, monitors attendance of pupils in primary schools and ensures
vendors deliver food properly under the school feeding programme. In some LGAs, they also renovate
classroom blocks and hire temporary teachers for rural schools.
---
Definition:
The state government is the second tier of government, responsible for managing junior and senior
secondary education. It works through the State Ministry of Education and State Universal Basic
Education Board (SUBEB) to implement policies.
Example:
Kaduna State, under Governor El-Rufai, implemented a free and compulsory basic education policy,
eliminated school fees, provided uniforms, and constructed new schools. The state also recruited and
trained thousands of teachers to improve learning outcomes.
Another example is Lagos State, which introduced the EkoEXCEL digital learning programme, using
tablets to monitor teachers and enhance classroom delivery.
---
The federal government is the first and highest level of government. It is responsible for tertiary
education, developing national policies, and ensuring uniform standards across the country. It works
through national agencies like UBEC, TETFund, NUC, and the Federal Ministry of Education.
Example:
The National Policy on Education, developed by the Federal Ministry of Education, serves as a guideline
for all education activities in Nigeria. The federal government also funds universities through TETFund,
regulates higher institutions through the National Universities Commission (NUC), and conducts
admission exams via JAMB.
---
✅ Conclusion
To summarise:
Policy analytic processes are research-driven tools and steps used to study a problem and choose the
best solution.
Policy formation processes are government-led political and administrative actions that create, adopt,
and implement public policy.
Education policies in Nigeria are formed and executed at the local, state, and federal levels, each with
specific roles and responsibilities.
Real examples like the UBE Act, Kaduna free education, and school feeding show how policy analysis and
formation work hand-in-hand.
---
Excellent. Here’s a refined and practical version of the lecture notes on Processes of Policy Formation
and Levels of Policy-Making in the Education Sector in Nigeria, using real-life and existing examples at
the local, state, and federal levels.
---
✅ Lecture Notes: Policy Formation and Levels of Policy-Making in Nigeria’s Education Sector (With Real
Examples)
---
Policy formation in education follows six major steps. Each step is explained with real-life Nigerian
examples for clarity:
---
1. Problem Identification
Example:
High numbers of out-of-school children in northern Nigeria prompted public concern and UNICEF
reports in recent years.
---
2. Agenda Setting
The issue gains national or state-level attention and is placed on the agenda of decision-makers.
Example:
The Federal Ministry of Education and development partners organized summits to address out-of-
school children, prompting policy actions like the Almajiri Education Programme (initiated during
President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration).
---
3. Policy Formulation
Government officials, education experts, and stakeholders develop possible solutions through
consultations and research.
Example:
In response to low enrolment and literacy, the Federal Government formulated the Universal Basic
Education (UBE) Programme in 1999, proposing free and compulsory basic education for children aged
6–15.
---
4. Policy Adoption
The preferred solution is approved through legislation, executive action, or administrative directive.
Example:
The Universal Basic Education Act (2004) was passed by the National Assembly, making basic education
a legal right and a duty of government to provide.
---
5. Policy Implementation
Agencies carry out the policy through budgeting, infrastructure, recruitment, and monitoring.
Example:
The State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) and Local Government Education Authorities
(LGEAs) implement the UBE programme by building classrooms, hiring teachers, and distributing
learning materials.
---
6. Policy Evaluation
Government or independent bodies assess whether the policy is achieving its objectives.
Example:
Annual education sector performance reviews and reports by UBEC and international partners help
assess enrolment trends, literacy levels, and school completion rates.
---
Education policy is shaped and implemented at three government levels, each with its distinct roles:
---
Responsibility:
Real Example:
In many LGAs across states like Ogun and Kano, LGEAs support the National Home-Grown School
Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) by supervising food vendors and ensuring pupils in public primary schools
get daily meals.
---
Responsibility:
Coordinates with UBEC for funding and ensures education laws are enforced.
Real Example:
Kaduna State implemented free and compulsory basic education from Primary 1 to JSS3 under Governor
Nasir El-Rufai, including the abolition of school fees and provision of uniforms and books.
Lagos State developed the EkoEXCEL (Excellence in Child Education and Learning) digital learning
programme to improve teaching quality in public primary schools using tablets and real-time
monitoring.
---
Responsibility:
Real Examples:
The National Policy on Education (NPE) guides the entire education system and is reviewed periodically
by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The Federal Government launched the TETFund (Tertiary Education Trust Fund) to finance infrastructure
and research in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
It also operates JAMB for university entrance exams, and WAEC/NECO for secondary school certification.
---
📌 Summary of Key Roles at Each Level
---
✅ Conclusion
Policy formation in Nigeria’s education sector is a multi-step process involving identifying problems,
developing solutions, adopting them formally, and evaluating results. Real-life programmes like UBE,
EkoEXCEL, and the Almajiri initiative show how different levels of government interact to shape and
deliver education policy.
---
Absolutely! Here's a tailored version of your teaching outline on Policy Analytic Processes, specifically
focused on the education sector in Nigeria or similar contexts. This version retains the structured stages,
tools, and teaching methods, but all examples and focus areas are linked directly to education policies.
---
---
Definition:
Policy analysis in education involves the use of systematic methods to evaluate educational problems
and recommend effective solutions to improve learning access, quality, equity, or governance.
Importance and Goals:
Prospective (before policy is implemented): e.g., analyzing different models for expanding school
feeding.
Retrospective (after policy has been implemented): e.g., evaluating the impact of free education in Ogun
State.
---
What to Teach:
Methods:
Example:
The problem of out-of-school children in the North-East of Nigeria due to poverty, insecurity, and
cultural norms.
---
Stage 2: Setting Objectives and Evaluation Criteria
What to Teach:
Evaluation Criteria:
Efficiency: Is it affordable?
Equity: Will it help disadvantaged groups (e.g., girls, children with disabilities)?
Objective: Increase girl-child school enrolment in Northern Nigeria by 20% within 3 years.
---
What to Teach:
Example:
School feeding
---
What to Teach:
Cost-Effectiveness: Comparing cost per additional child enrolled under different programmes
Example:
Compare the cost and expected outcome of building more schools vs. offering cash incentives to
families.
---
What to Teach:
Example:
Recommending expansion of the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme after analysis shows it's
more cost-effective and politically supported than conditional cash transfers.
---
What to Teach:
Example:
For a digital learning policy, you need tablets, training for teachers, electricity access, and tech support.
---
What to Teach:
Monitoring Tools:
Community surveys
Example:
Monitoring the EkoEXCEL digital education programme in Lagos to see how it affects learning outcomes
and teacher performance.
---
PESTLE Analysis: Impact of political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors on
school reform
Stakeholder Analysis: Who supports or opposes a new curriculum (e.g., teachers, parents, religious
leaders)?
Logic Models: Inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact of a girl-child scholarship programme
---
Balance cost with equity — don’t ignore marginalized students for cheaper options
Example:
Avoid recommending a policy that excludes children with disabilities just because it is cheaper.
---
Teaching Tip:
Guide students through each of the 7 stages of the policy analytic process using one of these policies.
Ask them to analyse its effectiveness or suggest improvements.
---
Policy memo writing: Students write a one-page brief recommending a solution to a problem
✅ Conclusion
Policy analytic processes in the education sector help ensure that limited resources lead to meaningful
change. By teaching students how to analyze education problems and develop smart solutions, you
prepare them to become policy thinkers and future leaders.
---
---
Policy analysis tools help us organize our thinking, evaluate choices, and make better decisions. These
tools are like lenses — they help you look at an education problem from different angles.
Let’s explore the main tools, how they work, and how they apply to real-life education issues.
---
✅ 1. SWOT Analysis
Meaning:
Purpose:
To examine both the internal and external factors that affect a policy or programme.
Opportunities: Can partner with local textile industries and create jobs.
It helps policymakers know what to build on, what to fix, what to explore, and what to avoid.
---
✅ 2. PESTLE Analysis
Meaning:
PESTLE stands for Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental factors.
Purpose:
To analyze the wider environment that can affect the success or failure of a policy.
How to use it in education:
Suppose a federal government is considering introducing digital tablets for learning in secondary
schools. A PESTLE analysis might look like this:
Economic: Does the country have enough funds for nationwide distribution?
Legal: Are there data privacy rules for children using devices?
It shows how outside forces can affect policy success and helps in planning ahead.
---
✅ 3. Stakeholder Analysis
Meaning:
This is the process of identifying all the people or groups who will be affected by or who can influence a
policy.
Purpose:
To understand who supports or opposes a policy and how to manage their involvement.
Imagine the government wants to change the school curriculum to include sex education.
Parents: Some may support it, others may feel it's culturally inappropriate.
Religious leaders: Their approval or rejection can strongly influence public opinion.
Meaning:
A logic model is a visual plan that shows how a policy or programme is supposed to work — from inputs
to results.
Structure:
For a school feeding programme, the logic model might look like this:
It helps planners stay focused, track progress, and measure results over time.
---
Meaning:
This compares the total costs of a policy with the total benefits, all in money terms.
Purpose:
If the benefits are greater than the costs, then it’s a good investment.
---
Meaning:
This looks at which option gives the best results for the lowest cost — even if not all results can be
measured in money.
Purpose:
Options:
CEA can help find out which option costs the least per child retained in school.
It helps choose the most efficient solution, especially when funds are limited.
---
✅ 7. Risk Analysis
Meaning:
This tool looks at what might go wrong with a policy and how serious the effects would be.
Purpose:
If a state plans to start school buses for rural students, risks may include:
Roads becoming impassable during rainy season
Planners must think of how to reduce these risks — e.g., set up a maintenance team, create monitoring
groups.
---
These tools are not used in isolation. Analysts often combine them depending on the problem. For
example, when designing a new education policy, you may use:
---
Would you like a practice worksheet, matching exercise, or a flashcard-style revision guide for these
tools? I can create one based on this content!
Of course! Below is a student-friendly version of the notes on Policy Analytic Processes in the Education
Sector — written in simple language, well-organized, and easy for students to understand, take notes
from, or revise.
---
---
🔰 What is Policy Analysis?
Policy analysis is a careful way of studying a problem in education (like poor attendance or low exam
performance) and thinking of the best way to solve it using facts, data, and logic.
It helps the government, schools, and education planners make better decisions.
---
To make education fair for everyone (e.g., boys and girls, rich and poor)
---
Retrospective analysis: Done after a policy has been running. Example: Checking if free education has
reduced dropouts.
---
These are the steps followed when analyzing a policy. Think of it like solving a school problem step by
step.
---
Example: Too many children are dropping out of school before finishing Primary 6.
Methods:
Talk to teachers, parents, and students
---
Common criteria:
Cost: Is it affordable?
Examples:
---
⚖️4. Compare the Options (Analysis)
Cost-benefit analysis: Which option gives more results for the money spent?
Example: Feeding programmes may be more effective and popular than giving cash.
---
✅ 5. Make a Recommendation
Example: Recommend school feeding because it improves attendance and learning, and it’s supported
by parents and teachers.
---
6. Plan Implementation
Think about:
Example: For school feeding, we need cooks, food supplies, and health checks.
---
---
PESTLE analysis: Look at Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental factors.
Stakeholder analysis: Who supports or opposes the policy (e.g., parents, teachers, politicians)?
Logic model: Shows what goes in (inputs), what is done (activities), and what comes out (results).
---
---
---
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✅ Final Summary
Policy analysis helps us find the best ways to fix problems in the education system. It uses facts and logic
—not guesswork. When done properly, it helps governments create smart policies that improve schools,
help students, and make education more equal for everyone.
---
Absolutely! Here's a student-friendly and detailed explanation of the tools and techniques used in policy
analysis, with a focus on how they are applied in the education sector — especially in Nigeria or similar
developing contexts.
---
Policy analysis tools help us organize our thinking, evaluate choices, and make better decisions. These
tools are like lenses — they help you look at an education problem from different angles.
Let’s explore the main tools, how they work, and how they apply to real-life education issues.
---
✅ 1. SWOT Analysis
Meaning:
Purpose:
To examine both the internal and external factors that affect a policy or programme.
Let’s say a state wants to start a new free school uniform programme. Before making a decision, you do
a SWOT analysis:
Opportunities: Can partner with local textile industries and create jobs.
It helps policymakers know what to build on, what to fix, what to explore, and what to avoid.
---
✅ 2. PESTLE Analysis
Meaning:
PESTLE stands for Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental factors.
Purpose:
To analyze the wider environment that can affect the success or failure of a policy.
Suppose a federal government is considering introducing digital tablets for learning in secondary
schools. A PESTLE analysis might look like this:
Economic: Does the country have enough funds for nationwide distribution?
Legal: Are there data privacy rules for children using devices?
It shows how outside forces can affect policy success and helps in planning ahead.
---
✅ 3. Stakeholder Analysis
Meaning:
This is the process of identifying all the people or groups who will be affected by or who can influence a
policy.
Purpose:
To understand who supports or opposes a policy and how to manage their involvement.
Imagine the government wants to change the school curriculum to include sex education.
Parents: Some may support it, others may feel it's culturally inappropriate.
Religious leaders: Their approval or rejection can strongly influence public opinion.
---
Meaning:
A logic model is a visual plan that shows how a policy or programme is supposed to work — from inputs
to results.
Structure:
For a school feeding programme, the logic model might look like this:
It helps planners stay focused, track progress, and measure results over time.
---
Meaning:
This compares the total costs of a policy with the total benefits, all in money terms.
Purpose:
The government wants to give every student a tablet. They calculate the cost of buying, training, and
maintenance. Then they estimate the benefits — better exam results, improved digital skills, reduced
paper use.
If the benefits are greater than the costs, then it’s a good investment.
---
Meaning:
This looks at which option gives the best results for the lowest cost — even if not all results can be
measured in money.
Purpose:
Options:
CEA can help find out which option costs the least per child retained in school.
It helps choose the most efficient solution, especially when funds are limited.
---
✅ 7. Risk Analysis
Meaning:
This tool looks at what might go wrong with a policy and how serious the effects would be.
Purpose:
If a state plans to start school buses for rural students, risks may include:
Planners must think of how to reduce these risks — e.g., set up a maintenance team, create monitoring
groups.
---
These tools are not used in isolation. Analysts often combine them depending on the problem. For
example, when designing a new education policy, you may use:
Stakeholder analysis to know who to involve
---
Would you like a practice worksheet, matching exercise, or a flashcard-style revision guide for these
tools? I can create one based on this content!