CHAPTER 7 - THE UNIVERSITIES AND TEACHER EDUCATION

Abstract

This chapter describes the development of universities and teacher education in Nigeria. The Department and Institute of Education provided two professional courses of training—a post-graduate certificate in education of one academic year in length under the scheme of special relationship with the University of London, and a one-year course for trained experienced non-graduates. The latter course was not related to the special relationship scheme; however, it closely resembled the course provided at the University College of the Gold Coast, which in its turn was derived from the course already referred to, organized in London in 1944. The proposals made for the Faculty of Education in the University of Lagos suggested that in addition to a one-year post-graduate diploma course, there should also be provided a three-year undergraduate course leading to a bachelor's degree and a teacher's diploma. This latter idea was one which had been discussed at meetings of the heads of the departments and institutes of education in English-speaking Africa, at a conference held at the University College, Makevere, Uganda, in 1961.