The 1887 Education Ordinance - Part 3

Consequent upon the separation of Lagos colony from the Gold Coast in 1886, it became mandatory that a purely Nigerian Education ordinance be enacted. The Ordinance was enacted in 1887. It created an Education Board and also stipulated rates and conditions for the award of grants, standard of examination, classification of teachers’ certificates and the board’s power to grant scholarship for secondary education.

The 1916 Education Ordinance

The 1916 Education Ordinance and the Code were approved on 21 and 24 December, 1916 respectively. They were the results of Lord Lugard’s efforts to cater for the whole country as education was based on good character and usefulness to both the individual and the community. The ordinance tried to reorganize the school system in

Nigeria. It also recommended that grant-in-aid be offered in the following percentages:

(i) Tone of the school, discipline, organization and moral instruction – 30 percent.

 (ii) Adequacy and efficiency of the teaching staff – 20 percent

(i)Periodical examination and general progress - 40 percent

(ii)Buildings, equipment, sanitation – 10 percent

The ordinance paved way for increased financial participation by Government, full- cooperation between the government and the missions and asserted government’s firm control over education. The Amended Ordinance No. 8 of 1919 gave more powers to the inspector by allowing them to inspect any school, whether assisted or non-assisted and also empowered the Education Board, upon the recommendation of inspectors, to close non- performing schools.