Brief History of Education in Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

Education in Nigeria is more of a public enterprise that has witnessed government complete and dynamic intervention and active participation (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1981). It is the view of the formulated education policy in Nigeria to use education as a vehicle in achieving national development. Education being an instrument of change, in Nigeria education policy has been a product of evolution through series of historical developments. 

The National Policy on Education in Nigeria was launched in 1977. The orientation of the policy is geared towards self-realization, individual and national efficiency, national unity etc. aimed at achieving social, cultural, economic, political, scientific and technological development. In 1985, the objectives of the policy were broadened to include free primary education among others. As noted by Anyanwu et al. (1999), this policy has been reviewed from time to time. 

Until 1984, the structure of Nigeria education system was 6 years of primary schools, 5 to 7 years of post primary schools (Secondary, Teacher Training College and sixth form) and 4 to 6 yrs of tertiary education (College of education, polytechnics, College of Technology and University education). From 1985, the structure that emanated can be classified thus, pre-primary or kindergarten education (2 to 3 yrs), for the children of ages 3 to5 years the primary school which is of 6 years period for children of ages 6 to 11 yrs, the post primary education which is of 6 years duration but divided into two halves (3 years of Junior Secondary School and 3 years of Senior Secondary School) and the 4 to 6 of tertiary education level. This is called the 6-3-3-4 system (Anyanwu et al., 1999). Since the inception of the Obasanjo led administration in 1999, a Universal Basic Education Scheme was launched in 1999. The specific targets of the scheme are, total eradication of illiteracy by the year 2010 and increase in adult literacy rate from 57% to 70% by 2003 (FRN, 2000).

Brief History of Education in Nigeria

Nigeria is blessed with a lot of ethnic group; Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo being the most recognized the system of education in Nigeria (Primary) is called Universal Basic Education (UBE) which is a replacement of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) in order to improve the first nine years of schooling.

Which include the 6 years primary education and The formal education system in Nigeria includes:

1. 6 years of primary schooling
2. 3 years of junior secondary schooling
3. 3 years of senior secondary schooling, and
4. 4 years of university education, 

finally directing toward a bachelor’s level degree in the majority of the subjects.

The annual term of school in Nigeria is ten months, and is sectioned into three ten- to twelve-week periods, each at the pre-primary, primary, junior and senior secondary stages.

Prior to the arrival of western education in Nigeria, education has been informal majorly from the family and immediate society, where children are taught about culture, social activities and work. These educational activities made up for majority of what the upcoming ones learn.

The entrance of the Europeans into Nigeria brought along European western Education in the 1840s. In the western part of the country western education was encouraged by the Missionaries.

The Northern part of Nigeria, majorly populated by Muslims, western education was prohibited giving way to Islamic school that focused primarily on Islamic education.

Prior to Nigeria’s Independence, only two Established Post Secondary Institution were available, Yaba Higher College (Now Yaba College of Technology founded in 1934) and the University of Ibadan, founded in 1948.

Post Independence brought about the major development of education in Nigeria, with increase in the number of primary, secondary schools, teachers college and Polytechnics and Universities.

The cost of Tertiary education is constantly on the increase and the educational system is in need of improvement and innovation to move it forward from the current state.

History of Education in Nigeria

Western or formal education was started in Nigeria in 1842 — only at the primary level — by the Christian missionaries who managed the educational system according to their respective philosophies.

The missionary organizations available then were the Chord missionary society, the Wesleyan Methodist, and the Catholic.

Secondary education was established in 1859 and the first secondary school was CMS Grammar school, Lagos. 

The reason behind the delay of secondary schools was not well known. Though, there are insinuations that it was because the missionaries thought that secondary education can induce some critical thinking in people, which may not be helpful for their policies.

During this period, the British colonial government couldn’t interfere in the education system due to some political and financial factors. But in 1872, they started to intervene in the education system by giving donations to the missionary societies to support education.

In 1882, the colonial government brought a document- Education ordinance, with the aim of having total control on education. This was their first formal pronouncement in education in Nigeria. Schools were classified then into Government and private school. The government school were financed entirely through public funds but the private only receive little aid from public fund.

The 1882 education ordinance was cumbersome to implement in Nigeria because the curriculum, the method, and the medium of communication was too foreign for a Nigerian child. All these led to the failure of the ordinance and another ordinance was provided in 1887. 

The new ordinance was seen as the first effective effort made by the colonial government to aid education. Though, only some metropolises in Lagos were covered then.

More foreign teachers were employed, more schools were established and financial encouragements were given to the missions, voluntary agencies and private individuals to establish more schools.

After amalgamation, Lord Fredrick Lugard- then the Governor General of Nigeria set up some new ideas. These ideas from major part of 1916 ordinance. The ordinance came into existence exactly on 21^st of December, 1916. Since the ordinance took place after amalgamation, it was able to take care of the country as a whole.

The northerners had for long been resisting the intrusion of western education either from the colonial government or the missionaries. Lugard met with leaders from the north to convince them that the education will not affect the Islamic tradition which is more paramount to the northerners.

After 73 years from the date of establishment of the first secondary school, the first higher education institution was established in 1932. The first institution was the Yaba Higher College. 

The college was established in 1932, but commenced studies in1934.

In 1948, The University College Ibadan was created, starting with just 104 students. The number of universities rose from one to five in 1962. And in the 1970s and 1980s, an appreciable number of higher institutions were established. Statistics show that, in 1980, the number of students that gained admission into primary school was about 12 million, 1.2 million for secondary school, and 240,000 at the university level.

Today, western education has suffered many damages. The standard of education that the schools were known for is no more. Nigerian university graduates lack the proper knowledge and skills to acquire employment.

Measures must be put in place for Nigerian education to attain its past glory.

References 

Amaghionyeodiwe, L.A and Osinubi, T.S.(2007). 

“Do Higher Levels Of Schooling Lead To Higher Returns To Education In Nigeria?”  

Applied Econometrics and International Development, Vol.7-1. pp.157-164.¹

Barro, R. and Lee, J.W.(1999). 

Total years of Schooling Statistics. 

 International Journal of Applied Econometrics and Quantitative Studies Vol.3-1 (2006) International Journal of Applied Econometrics and Quantitative Studies Vol.3-1 (2006) Bourne, C., and Dass, A. (2003) “Private and Social Rates of Return to Higher Education in Science and Technology in a Caribbean Economy.” 

Education Economics, Vol.11, issue 1, pp.1-10(10).