EARLY CHILDHOOD COGNITIVE SCIENCE DEVELOPMENT: IMPLICATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

Abstract

Science and national development are quintessentially the two sides of the same coin and it goes without saying that the changing phases of education as a result of its paradigm shift of the 21stcentury necessitates a deeper consideration for laying a solid foundation for science education. It is globally accepted that science rules the world and a knowledge-driven economy demands a well-grounded knowledge in science and technology for scientific breakthroughs and technological advancement. Science, which has an ever present but subtle impact on virtually every aspect of modern life should be laid from the early childhood education level. This paper focused on the development of cognition and cognitive science as a problem solving skill which should be developed in every child albeit, in every human being. Some challenges in the process of developing cognitive science in the child include among others, the environment, inadequate facilities, the school curriculum, incompetent teachers etc. some suggestions were also made, among which are: provision of stimulating environment, mandatory school attendance by every individual child in the Nigerian nation in order to implement the equality of education policy, recruitment of qualified teachers, government placing more importance on the foundation laying education levels (Early Childhood and Primary) and vigorous funding of education at all levels in Nigeria.