Education Policy Implementation and Human Capacity Development in Rivers State

Since the education system in Nigeria has become more unstable and complex, the challenges of implementing policies, and practices have unequivocally evolved. The paper investigated educational policy implementation and human capacity development in Rivers State. The objectives of the study are to investigate the challenges that influence the implementation of educational policy in Rivers State, and to determine the extent to which implementation of educational policy enhances human capacity development in Rivers State. The human capital theory was utilized. The descriptive survey design, and the purposive sampling technique were adopted in administering questionnaires to 60 respondents comprising residents in Port Harcourt. The data retrieved were analyzed in percentage and presented on tables. The findings revealed that there are challenges that influence the implementation of education policy in Rivers State, and that education enhances human capacity development in Rivers State. Based on the findings, the study recommends that government should evaluate educational policies periodically to identify the challenges to effective implementation of education policies, and carry out policy reforms by eliminating obsolete and ineffective policies in the education system as well as outlining strategic measures that can ensure full implementation of educational policies, set up policy attainment assessment committee comprising policymakers and other stakeholders in education departments in government and industrial settings, conduct human capacity development assessment or test for fresh graduates of universities, school, and industrial training centres.