History of Education

🟢 Lite — Quick Review (1h–1d)

Rapid summary for last-minute revision before your exam.

History of Education — Key Facts for NCE (Nigeria)

• Nigerian Education Pre-Colonial: Oral tradition, apprenticeship, Islamic schools (Almajiris)
• Missionary Education (1843+): Started by Catholic and Protestant missions
• 1900-1929: Formal colonial education begins; 1916 Ordinance standardized mission schools
• 1977: National Policy on Education introduced
• ⚡ Exam tip: Know key education ordinances and their years — 1882, 1916, 1926, 1977, 1985, 2004

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🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)

Standard content for students with a few days to months.

History of Education — NCE (Nigeria) Study Guide

Pre-Colonial Nigerian Education

Characteristics:

• Informal and non-formal education
• Oral tradition and storytelling
• Apprenticeship system
• Islamic education (Almajiri system)
• Education for survival and socialization

Islamic Education (Pre-Colonial):

• Quranic schools (Makarantan allo)
• Arabic language and Islamic values
• Duration: Several years
• Teacher: Mallam/Alfazaya
• Location: Mosque or teacher’s home

Traditional Education:

• Preparation for adult roles
• Gender-specific skills training
• Community responsibility emphasis
• Holistic development (head, heart, hand)

Colonial Period (1840s–1960)

Missionary Education:

• 1843: First missionary school established by Methodist Mission
• 1859: CMS (Church Missionary Society) schools in Lagos
• Purpose: Spread Christianity and Western values

Key Educational Ordinances:

Year	Ordinance	Key Features
1882		First education ordinance
1916		Education ordinance standardized mission schools
1926	Hilton Calder Commission	Recommended educational reforms
1944		6-year primary, 5-year secondary
1952		Accelerated expansion of education

Sir Hugh Norman’s 1926 Report:

• Education for basic needs
• Practical orientation
• Vernacular in early years
• Teacher training emphasis

Post-Independence (1960+)

1960–1977:

• Regional control of education
• Regional disparities in access
• Attempts at national curriculum

1977 — National Policy on Education:

• 6-3-3-4 system introduced
• Universal Primary Education (UPE) 1976
• Free, universal, compulsory primary education

6-3-3-4 System

Level	Years	Description
Primary	6	Foundational literacy and numeracy
Junior Secondary	3	Pre-vocational and academic
Senior Secondary	3	Specialization streams
Tertiary	4+	University/Polytechnic

NCE Exam Pattern

Common question types:

1. Chronological ordering of education events
2. Comparison of pre-colonial and colonial education
3. Key commission and ordinance provisions
4. Analysis of education policy changes

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🔴 Extended — Deep Study (3mo+)

Comprehensive coverage for students on a longer study timeline.

History of Education — Comprehensive NCE (Nigeria) Notes

Detailed Theory

1. African Traditional Education

Philosophy:

• Education for the community, not the individual
• Learning by doing — practical orientation
• Holistic development encompassing moral, physical, intellectual, social dimensions
• Collectivism over individualism

Objectives:

1. Development of proper social behavior
2. Preparation for adult responsibilities
3. Transmission of cultural heritage
4. Development of职业技能
5. Character formation and moral development

Methods:

• Observation and imitation
• Storytelling and oral tradition
• Participation in community activities
• Initiation ceremonies
• Apprenticeship

Limitations:

• No written records
• Limited geographic scope
• Subject to oral transmission errors
• Rigid caste or gender restrictions

2. Islamic Education in Nigeria

Historical Background:

• Islam arrived in Northern Nigeria via traders (11th-14th centuries)
• Kanem-Bornu and Mali-Songhai empires were Islamic
• By 19th century, Islamic scholarship flourished in Sokoto Caliphate

Structure of Islamic Education:

1. Quranic School (Makarantan allo):

   • Age: 4-7 years
   • Duration: 2-4 years
   • Content: Quran memorization, Arabic alphabet
   • Method: Rote memorization with wooden boards

2. Arabic/Tafsir School:

   • Advanced study of Arabic language
   • Quranic interpretation
   • Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh)
   • Hadith and Sirah

3. Islamic University Tradition:

   • Advanced scholars studied specialized Islamic sciences
   • Some centers like Kano became major scholarly hubs

Almajiri System:

• System of Quranic education
• Children sent to Islamic teachers (Mallams)
• Originally: holistic education combined with practical skills
• Modern concerns: large numbers without adequate support
• Current reform efforts ongoing

3. Missionary Education in Nigeria

First Phase (1840s–1880s):

• 1843: Methodist Mission establishes first school in Badagry
• 1859: CMS Grammar School, Lagos (first secondary school)
• 1867: St. Mary’s School, Lagos (Anglican)
• Focus: Evangelization and Western education

Second Phase (1880s–1940s):

• 1882: First Education Ordinance — government subsidy of mission schools
• 1916: Education Ordinance — standardized curriculum and teacher training
• 1926: Hilton-Calder Commission — examined education and made recommendations
• 1944: Educational policy introduced 6-4-4 structure

Key Features of Missionary Education:

• English as medium of instruction
• Western curriculum and textbooks
• Religious instruction (Christian)
• Production of Westernized elite
• Social stratification — created educated class

Criticisms:

• Neglected indigenous languages and culture
• Created cultural alienation
• Inaccessible to majority due to fees
• Produced few practical skills

4. Colonial Educational Commissions

1916 Education Ordinance:

• Established grants-in-aid system
• Mission schools received government funding
• Standardized curriculum requirements
• Teacher certification requirements

1926 Hilton-Calder Commission:

• Recommended education for social service
• Vernacular as initial medium
• Practical skills integration
• More government responsibility

1948 Elliol Commission:

• Post-WWII educational expansion
• Recommended more secondary schools
• Led to increased educational access

1952 Memorandum on Education:

• Accelerated educational development
• More regional autonomy
• Introduced modern subjects

5. Post-Independence Educational Developments

1960 Independence Period:

• Education remained regional
• Western Region had most developed system
• 1962: Ashby Commission on man power
• Federal government began coordinating role

1976 — Universal Primary Education (UPE):

• Launched by Obasanjo military government
• Free and compulsory primary education
• Massive expansion of schools
• Implementation challenges (shortage of teachers, infrastructure)

1977 National Policy on Education:

• First comprehensive national policy
• 6-3-3-4 system officially adopted
• Teacher education reforms
• National curriculum framework

1985 — New Policy on Education:

• Refinements to 6-3-3-4
• Better integration of theory and practice
• NABTEB established for technical examinations

2004 — Education Sector Reform:

• Universal Basic Education (UBE) replaced UPE
• 9 years of compulsory basic education
• Federal-state funding framework

6. The 6-3-3-4 System — Detailed Analysis

Rationale:

• Reduce academic monopoly
• Develop technical and vocational skills
• Link education to manpower needs
• International comparability

Implementation Challenges:

• Inadequate infrastructure for pre-vocational studies
• Unprepared teachers for new curriculum
• Lack of equipment and materials
• Negative perception of technical education
• Inadequate funding

Reforms and Outcomes:

• JS 1-3 emphasized prevocational subjects
• Basic technology, agriculture, home economics
• Attempted to produce practical skills
• Criticisms led to subsequent reforms

7. Current Educational Structure in Nigeria

Basic Education (9 years):

• Primary 1-6 (6 years)
• Junior Secondary 1-3 (3 years)
• Free and compulsory (UBE Act 2004)

Senior Secondary (3 years):

• Three streams: Science, Humanities, Business
• Electives within streams
• Terminal — world of work or higher education

Tertiary Education:

• Universities (4+ years)
• Polytechnics (2-3 years for ND, 2 years for HND)
• Colleges of Education (2-4 years)
• NBTE, NUC regulate various sectors

8. Key Lessons from Nigerian Educational History

1. Colonial Legacy: Education system reflects colonial priorities, not indigenous ones
2. Policy Instability: Frequent changes without adequate implementation
3. Resource Mismatch: Ambitious goals with inadequate resources
4. Quality vs. Quantity: Expansion often牺牲 quality
5. Relevance Gap: Education often disconnected from national development needs

9. Statistics on Nigerian Education

• Gross Enrolment Ratio (Primary): ~80%
• Out-of-school children: ~10 million (among highest globally)
• Literacy rate: ~62%
• Teacher-pupil ratios often exceed national standards
• Significant regional disparities (South vs. North)

Practice Questions for NCE

1. Compare and contrast pre-colonial and missionary education in Nigeria.
2. Explain the provisions of the 1977 National Policy on Education.
3. Evaluate the successes and failures of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) scheme.
4. Discuss the rationale for and challenges of the 6-3-3-4 system in Nigeria.
5. How has the Almajiri system of education evolved, and what are its current challenges?

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