Essential Things You Need To Know About School In Nigeria

As individuals who have experienced the Nigerian Education System first-hand, it is essential to examine the fundamental nature of school. Beyond the physical infrastructure & academic activities, what constitutes a school? What is the history, the significance, and functions? What are the various categories and types of schools, their administrative structures & curricula

As Students, Parents, Educators, and anyone interested in Education. It’s crucial to pay attention to Education system especially that of Nigerian education system to understand its advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses.

Highlights

• The primary purpose of a school is to provide a supportive and structured environment where students can learn, grow, and thrive to become Civilized and fit for the society.

By the end of this article, you will possess a deeper understanding of the Nigerian education system, enabling you to make informed decisions regarding your own educational path or that of your loved ones. Remember, knowledge is power, and understanding school is crucial to unlocking the full of your potential.

Definition Of School

A school is an institution where Learners (Students, Pupils and Trainees) attend to learn and acquire knowledge, skills, and values under the guidance of Teachers, Educators, Coaches and/or Trainers. It is a physical or virtual environment where learning takes place, and students can develop their intellectual, social, emotional, and physical abilities.

The primary purpose of a school is to provide a supportive and structured environment where students can learn, grow, and thrive to become Civilized and fit for the society. As an institution dedicated to teaching and learning, it is structured for knowledge, skills, and values to be transmitted from one generation to the next through the power of students, teachers and staff working together through the systems to achieve Educational goals

Brief History of School

The concept of schools dates back to ancient civilizations, when Education were mainly Informal and Semi-formal. Education as a means to pass on knowledge, skills, and cultural values to the younger ones brings Learners together gathering around wise elders, priests, or scribes to learn various subjects.

Meanwhile, The first Formal Education is widely attributed to ancient Egypt around 2000 BCE known as Per-Ankh. However, it is not the first Formal School as it lacks the Attributes of Formal School. The first Formal School in the world according to Research is the Sumerian Edubbas founded around 3,500 BCE followed by the Taxila University founded around the 6 Century BCE

The Per-Ankh is an Educational system that was dedicated to the goddess Nisaba, patron deity of writing, knowledge, and wisdom attached to temples and served as centers of learning, focusing on theology, medicine, mathematics, and writing.

Another Ancient Egyptian Educational system mentioned is Imhotep’s School. But there is little to no Historical Evidence as to whether Imhotep had a School in his days. Imhotep was a renowned ancient Egyptian polymath, architect, physician, engineer, and priest who lived during the 3rd dynasty of Ancient Egypt (around 2600-2500 BCE). He is credited with designing and building the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara.

The Sumerian Edubbas was a Primary and Secondary level of Education founded around 3,500 BC in ancient Sumer, Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). It is considered to be the earliest known schools that meet the features and characteristics of Formal schools.

After it was founded around 3500 BCE as a Temple School, it evolved and emerged as a formal institution around 2500 BCE from the temple schools after the invention of writing around 3500 BCE. The Sumerian Edubbas predate the University of Taxila by over 1,900 years.

Taxila University which is the first Formal School according to our Research is located at Taxila, ancient India (present-day Pakistan). It was founded by 6th century BC attracting students from across ancient India and beyond. The Subjects taught: Philosophy, medicine, astronomy, and politics

In the case of Nigeria, The first formal school in Nigeria was established in 1843, by British missionaries with the name the Nursery of Infant Church. It was later renamed to St. Thomas Anglican Nursery and Primary School by Rev. Golmer of the Church Missionary Society (CMS)

Prior to the establishment of the St. Thomas Anglican Nursery and Primary School, there was a missionary school established by the Anglican Church Missionary in 1842. While it is a Religious related School, it is not considered as a Formal School but a semi-formal School

However, the First Secondary school, CMS Grammar School, was established in 1859 in Lagos.

The First Tertiary Institution established in Nigeria is the Yaba College. Yaba College which founded in 1932 in Yaba, Lagos. The Institution primarily provided post-secondary vocational education and teacher training to Africans. While the First first university in Nigeria is the University of Ibadan, which was established in 1948. University of Ibadan was Initially a College of the University of London, but it became a full-fledged independent university in 1962. For more Information on the History of School, Click Here

The Importance Of School