Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies: Home

Abstract:
The linkages among education, poverty, unemployment, income inequality and economic growth in developing nations' economies have been discussed in many studies with empirical controversies. Accordingly, there is however, a need to critically examine the relationship between literacy rate and incidence of poverty in Nigeria, with a view to deriving implications for policy direction. In concrete terms the paper examined and tested whether significant relationships exist between literacy rate and the incidence of poverty in Nigeria both in the short and long run. The study employed ordinary least square multiple regression method for the data analysis. After applying the diagnostic tests, the time series secondary data used for the regression were found to be stationary and co integrated. The study found that literacy rate did not contribute meaningfully to poverty alleviation in Nigeria. In other words the education system of Nigeria is not productive. The policy did not fulfill its target and goals. Our findings and conclusion support the need for the government to review and adopt education policy and system that can alleviate poverty, reduce unemployment and promote self-reliance

Keywords: literacy rate, poverty alleviation, unemployment, self-reliance, economic growth

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