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Describe the British Education Policy for Africa during the colonial period

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The British education system aimed of creating a group of African civil servant who could operate administration which though based on British model, could at the same time be concerned with adoption of African condition.
However, it must be noted here that the policy of adaptation in the British colonies was born out of the experience in India. It had been realized that the transfer of the British model of education TO India was responsible for the political agitation for independence in India. Therefore, the British colonial office in London was not ready for the repeat anywhere in their new colonies in Africa.
Therefore, Lord Lugard was charged with the responsibility of becoming an architect of the British Imperial policies in Africa.
Lord Lugard recommended that, the school should as far as possible be conducted with accordance with native customs with matters of dress and etiquette. This was to be based on the fact that the pupils were not to become denationalized , or so that they do not begin to consider themselves as being a class a part. The emphasis of education was in the production of people who can adopt themselves in their local environment and who should learn to work towards the improvements of the same.
In which case, the colonial education which was recommended by the lord Lugard policy to train a generation of Africans who are able to achieve ideals on their own without enslaving themselves to the European culture. A generation capable and willing to assume its own definite sphere in public and civil work and shape its own future.
Notwithstanding the seemingly positive aspect of Lugard policy for Africans in the British colony yet we note that Lugard was not just committed for the policy for its own sake. He was the policy as a means of blocking political agitation. The policy was mainly based on the fact that education based on European line produced mischievous results. It produces hostility and ingratitude instead.
The question of adaptation in the education of Africans was further emphasized by Phelps-stock commission of 1924. The commission required that education should teach the adaptation of school practice to the need of rural life in general development in Africa. That, education should aim at conservation of African community and its adaptation to the modern world in as far as this did not uproot the Africa from its traditions but to encourage the co-operation of the community with the new change.

Titany answered the question on August 30, 2021 at 11:58

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Describe the British Education Policy for Africa during the colonial period

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