Basic Literacy Programmes In Kano And Lagos States

Background to the Study

The modern foundation of adult education in Nigeria was laid by the British in 1941, in the account of Anyanwu (1980:17-18). He states that the outbreak of the Second World War brought a change in the attitudes of the British Government towards literacy education. His Majesty's Government decided to extend education to a large number of Nigerians. Then, on the 13" of July 1943, the British House of Commons was formally informed by Mr. Arthur Creech-Jones, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that in many colonies, there was a large number of adult illiterates and a small percentage of the formal school population. He felt that there was need to radically and urgently alter the situation. With the interest of the British Government in adult education for Nigerians, various experiments were started for its promotion in various communities. The local people were encouraged to attend various evening classes which were run through voluntary efforts and local agencies. Although the lingua franca in Nigeria is English language, the local languages and dialects were used to teach literacy in the various communities. It was thus, possible to be literate in one community and still not be able to communicate intelligibly in another community that has a different language or dialect. Little wonder therefore, that some adult literacy participants preferred to be instructed in the lingua franca.