Theatre-in-Education: A Key to Decolonizing Nigerian Formal Education System

Researchers at the University of Ibadan have highlighted the importance of incorporating theatre-in-education in Nigeria's formal education system to promote socio-cultural competence among school children. The study, published in the International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies, emphasized the need for innovative educational policies and practices that accommodate practical theatre as a school subject. By doing so, the researchers argue that theatre-in-education can bridge the gap between cognitive and affective learning, promoting mimetic creation, dissemination, and deepening of socio-cultural knowledge and appreciation.

Key Takeaways:

• Theatre-in-education offers both cognitive and affective learning benefits to students, promoting mimetic creation, dissemination, and deepening of socio-cultural knowledge and appreciation.
• The study argues that theatre-in-education is crucial for developing socio-cultural competence among school children in post-colonial Nigeria.
• A dual-method of literature review was adopted, combining traditional and systematic approaches to validate the effectiveness of theatre-in-education.
• The study analyzed and synthesized 11 peer-reviewed studies published between 2004 and 2024 to establish the significance of theatre-in-education.
• Researchers at the University of Ibadan recommend that educational policies and practices as well as school curricula in Nigeria be innovated to accommodate practical theatre as a school subject.
• The study has implications for the decolonisation of education and culture, promoting culturally responsive pedagogy in Nigeria.

Statistics:

• 11 peer-reviewed studies were analyzed and synthesized to validate the effectiveness of theatre-in-education.
• The research spanned 20 years, from 2004 to 2024.
• Theatre-in-education offers cognitive and affective learning benefits to students, promoting socio-cultural knowledge and appreciation.
• The study recommends that educational policies and practices be innovated to accommodate practical theatre as a school subject.

Sources:

• Socio-Cultural Competence: Why Theatre(-in-) Education is Important for Every Post-colonial Nigerian Child. International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies, 2025,12(3):24-48.
• NewsRx. New Study Findings from University of Ibadan Illuminate Research in Education [Socio-Cultural Competence: Why Theatre(-in-) Education is Important for Every Post-colonial Nigerian Child]. Education Letter. September 17, 2025; p 465.
• International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies. Tishk International University is the publisher.