Explain five (5) factors that helped to serve the basis for Nigeria’s educational policies as recommended by the commission on colonial educational policies in Africa

Explain five (5) factors that helped to serve the basis for Nigeria’s educational policies as recommended by the commission on colonial educational policies in Africa

After the reports of two Phelps- Stoke’s committees that visited West Africa in 1920 and East and Central Africa in 1924, criticized the system of education being given to Africans by the colonial masters as being book based and not in conformity local contents in Africa, the committee on colonial educational policies in Africa was set up

The committee worked tirelessly and produced a thirteen point memorandum, which provided for the first time, a sound basis for Nigeria’s educational policies. Amongst the points are as follows:

A. Government should control educational policies and cooperate with educational

agencies. Each territory should have an Education Advisory Board on which all

educational interests should be represented

B. Education should be adapted to the mentality, aptitudes, occupations and traditions of the various peoples, conserving as far as possible, all sound and healthy elements in the fabric of their social life; adapting them where necessary to changed circumstances and progressive ideas, as an agent of natural growth and evolution.

C. Government should be concerned with religious and character training.

D. Education service must be made to attract the best men from Britain, whether for permanent career or for short-service appointment.

E. Grant should be given to aid voluntary schools which satisfy the requirements.

F. African languages, as well as English, should be used in education. G. African teaching staff must be adequate in number, in qualification, and in

character, and should include women.

H. The system of specially trained visiting teachers is commended as a means of improving village schools.

The Commission on Colonial Educational Policies in Africa, following criticism of the colonial education system in Africa, recommended several factors that formed the basis for Nigeria’s educational policies:

1. Government Control and Cooperation: The government should control educational policies and collaborate with educational agencies. Each territory should have an Education Advisory Board with representation from all educational interests.
2. Adaptation to Local Contexts: Education should be tailored to the mentality, aptitudes, occupations, and traditions of different peoples, while preserving valuable aspects of their social life. It should adapt to changing circumstances and progressive ideas to facilitate natural growth and evolution.
3. Religious and Character Training: The government should be involved in religious and character training as part of the educational system.
4. Recruitment of Quality Educators: Efforts should be made to attract the best educators from Britain, both for permanent careers and short-service appointments.
5. Support for Voluntary Schools: Grants should be provided to support voluntary schools that meet the necessary requirements.

These recommendations aimed to create a more locally relevant and inclusive education system in Nigeria.

Evaluation

1. The Commission on Colonial Educational Policies in Africa aimed to address issues in ___________ education. a) Colonial b) African c) British
2. The Phelps-Stoke’s committees criticized colonial education for being too ___________. a) Traditional b) Book-based c) Practical
3. The Commission recommended that the government should ___________ educational policies. a) Control b) Ignore c) Eliminate
4. Each territory was advised to have an Education Advisory Board with ___________ representation. a) Limited b) Comprehensive c) Exclusive
5. The Commission emphasized the importance of adapting education to the ___________ of different peoples. a) Global trends b) Mentality, aptitudes, and traditions c) Colonial standards
6. Education should be an agent of ___________ growth and evolution. a) Rapid b) Natural c) Artificial
7. The government was recommended to be involved in ___________ and character training. a) Language development b) Religious c) Sports education
8. Efforts were made to attract the best educators from ___________. a) Africa b) Britain c) Asia
9. Grants should be provided to support ___________ schools that meet the requirements. a) Voluntary b) Private c) Colonial
10. In addition to English, ___________ languages should be used in education. a) Colonial b) African c) Asian
11. African teaching staff needed to be ___________ in number, qualification, and character. a) Inadequate b) Adequate c) Excessive
12. The Commission recommended that visiting teachers be ___________. a) Specially trained b) Excluded c) Overworked

• .Explain five (5) factors that helped to serve the basis for Nigeria’s educational policies as recommended by the commission on colonial educational policies in Africa
• Outline and explain five (5) major threats facing the development of Education in Nigeria today
• Explain the reasons behind the introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme.