Northern Nigeria and the Issue of Free Universal Primary Education, 1952-58

Abstract

In 1948, Sidney Phillipson, The Financial Secretary of the Nigerian Federal Government appointed to review grants in-aid to education, recommended a universal, free, compulsory system of primary and secondary education for Nigeria.' Seven years later, 1955, free primary education was introduced in the Western Region, and in 1957 in the Eastern Region and in Lagos. However, free universal primary education was not introduced in the Northern Region during the period under review. In fact, it was not launched until after independence. This article considers some of the apparent causes of the failure to launch a free primary education scheme in the Northern Region during the period studied. Specific issues addressed are (1) financial problems, (2) teacher supply, (3) inadequate data collection procedures, and (4) religious and cultural influences. Comparative evidence is provided to show that though the Western and Eastern Regions had similar difficulties, they took steps to implement their plans without delay. This study begins with 1952 because it was in that year that the first legislation to introduce Universal Primary Education (UPE) was passed in Western Nigeria. The study ends with 1958 when the Northern government decided to make the provinces responsible for the organization of primary education.