EVALUATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COLLEGES (UNITY SCHOOLS) IN NIGERIA.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1        Background to the Study

Secondary education came into what is now Nigeria in the 19^th Century largely through the effort of the Christian missions. The government for a very long time did not complement the efforts of the Christian mission. It was only in 1909 that the colonial government established its first institution, the King‟s College, Lagos. The establishment of King‟s College in 1909 marked the beginning of the dichotomy between public and private institutions.

The methods and standards of decision making processes varied greatly from one school to another due to different proprietorship and operational structure. Enrolment was highly selective and limited. Schools were at that time run on the colonial philosophical ideology which was strongly based on the assumption that education should be given to a “selected few” initially. It was hoped that the few pioneers were expected to give education to the rest of the people.

The proprietor of each school appointed the leadership which could best represent his wishes, interest and ideals, and this leadership was mainly accountable only to the proprietor. There was no form of uniformity or cohesiveness in the admission of students, because students admitted in these secondary schools were selected from all over the country. Students admitted fell between the ages of fourteen and twenty years if not more. These students were matured and therefore knew why they were in school. There was a remarkable sense of discipline in the behaviour of students. There were very few cases of deviant behaviour on the part of the students and teachers. That might have accounted for the simplicity of administration of the schools. Shortly after the civil war, most schools were hurriedly taken over by government. Most of these secondary schools lost their initial hold, things were no longer the same, schools

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were now brought under a unified body which was controlled by the State School Boards of Education. All aspects of the school system changed.

EVALUATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COLLEGES (UNITY SCHOOLS) IN NIGERIA.