THE ROLE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE EDUCATION TOWARD ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to investigate and explain the role of political science education toward achieving sustainable development in Nigeria. The study also traced the origin, historical antecedence as well as changing dimension in the development of political science as a discipline. The paper also explained some teaching methods relevance to Political science as a discipline which covers different forms of specializations in politics such as political theory, political philosophy, political ideology, comparative politics, public administration, conflict and conflict resolution, international relations and organizations. In the study, the authors also identified some challenges encounters by Nigerian political science teachers in both post primary and tertiary institutions. This paper used thedescriptive research method to examine the role of political science education in achieving sustainable development in Nigeria. Methodologically, the study adopted secondary sources of data collection and used functionalist theory borrowed from sociology as theoretical framework and basis for explanations on the role of political science education toward achieving sustainable development in Nigeria. The findings of the paper established that just like other disciplines, political science education is very importance for achieving sustainable development in Nigeria. Finally, the study made some recommendations such as national curriculum review by making political science a compulsory course for all disciplines, field trip/excursion as well as in cooperating information and communications technology in teaching and learning political science education for prompt realization of sustainable development in Nigeria.