www.ijird.com January, 2014 Vol 3 Issue 1 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Page 474 Managing the Educational System for Quality Improvement and Job Creation among Youth in Nigeria 1. Introduction The education system is based on the National Policy on Education (NPE) document of1977 (last revised in 1990). The policy document addresses the issues of imbalance in the provision of education in different parts of the country with regard to access, quality of resources and girls’ education. Education is organized into 6 years of primary education, 3 years of junior secondary school, 3 years of senior secondary education and 4 years of university/ polytechnic/ college education. The Federal Ministry of Education has the responsibility for the coherence of national policy and procedures and for ensuring that the states’ policies operate within the parameters of national policy as adapted to local needs. Co-ordination of policy at the political level takes place through the National Council of Education. This is the highest policy making body, chaired by the Federal Minister of Education and includes all the State Commissioners of Education. This body is advised by the Joint Consultative Committee on Education, which consists of all the Federal and State Directors of Education, Chief Executives of education statutory bodies, and Directors of University Institutes of Education. The Director of the Federal Ministry of Education chairs the Committee. Responsibility for educational institutions is shared between Federal, State, local government, communities and private organizations. The Ministry of Education has the major responsibility for education, but other Ministries also play an important role. The Ministry of Information has the responsibility for publicity and awareness of some of the educational policies and programs offered. The Ministry of Women’s affairs and Social Welfare together with the State Commission for Women also play a role in promoting the education of women and girls. The administration of the education system is shared mainly amongst the Federal and State Ministries of Education as well as statutory bodies referred to as Commissions. There are Commissions established for different sub-sectors of the education system and are charged with various responsibilities for the sub-sectors. There is a National Primary Education Commission (NPEC), the National Secondary Education Commission (NSEC), the National Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education Commission (NMEC) and the National Universities Commission (NUC). In addition there are other major role players at local government level, district level and in the immediate environment where the school is located. Education is the key to national development. This is because it unlocks the economic potentials of the people; empowers and equips individuals in society to participate in, and benefit from their national economy; facilitates economic development and provides the basis for transformation. Education is the essential tool for sustainability. The present global economic crises suggest that the entire ISSN 2278 – 0211 (Online) Owolabi Lateef Kuye Department of Business Administration, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria Ogunkoya Olufemi A. Department of Business Administration, Olabisi Onabajo University, Ogun State, Nigeria Lasisi Olukayode J. Department of Business Administration Crescent University, Abeokuta, Nigeria Shodiya Olayinka A. Department of Business Administration, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Nigeria Abstract: In recent times, the Nigerian educational system has witnessed some drastic reforms. This paper highlights some of the major reforms that have taken place especially in response to a number of international human rights instruments that provide for education as a fundamental human right to all. The paper further discusses some of the challenges facing education in Nigeria and which is making it difficult for good quality education that is all empowering and capable of bringing about sustainable development to be achieved. Therefore, this paper examines how the role of education and how it could help in job creation in Nigeria. The challenges of quality education were also discussed. Finally, the paper advanced some suggestions on how to overcome the challenges so as to reduce unemployment and enhances job creation in Nigeria. Finally, it offered some suggestions on how to overcome these challenges.