HIGHER EDUCATION IN TRADITIONAL SOCIETY

 INTRODUCTION

The discussion in unit two has shown that traditional education in Nigeria was geared towards the preservation of the lives of the society. It also maintains the social, cultural and economic structures of the people. The education is built on solid and practical foundations. It is in close harmony with the life, needs and aspirations of the community. The curriculum of the traditional education covers all the virtues and ideas that encourage healthy living. “The local community constituted the school as well as the farm, the workshop, the dispensary and a field for experiments (particularly in agriculture and medicine)” (Ifeanacho and Irikana, 2001). In this unit, efforts will be made to examine higher education in the traditional Nigerian society. Some of the disciplines classified as higher education will also be briefly discussed.

 OBJECTIVES

By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

• distinguish between general education and higher education in Nigeria traditional society; 
•  Mention and briefly discuss the three different areas of higher education in traditional society; 
• Discuss any three different methods used by the traditional medicine practitioners. 

CLASSIFICATION OF TRADITIONAL EDUCATION 

There are three different levels of traditional education. These are: Education for living in conformity with the traditions of the community; Education for occupation and economic self-reliance; and Education for special occupations. (Taiwo 1980)

Education for Living in Conformity with the Tradition 

This type of education is referred to as the basic education which every member of the society must acquire to be able to live a purposeful life in the society. It is otherwise called basic education. The content of the education include the history of the family, and the group or society, the geography of the neighborhood, some knowledge of plants, insects and animals, proverbs, riddles, greetings appropriate to each occasion, character values, use of language and basic knowledge of counting numbers and so on.

Education for Occupation and Economic Self-Reliance

 This type of traditional education could be near equivalent to the secondary level of education in the formal structure. It gives training in the area of maintaining the home, growing food, the practice of crafts related to the needs of the honest and community. It offers occupations according to the traditional patterns of the division of labour. Fathers direct the male children, early enough to their occupations and mothers do likewise to their female children.

Special Occupation

This level of education is usually secret and exclusive to respective families or cults. It is provided only for those who are entitled by birth, selection or by special privilege to be trained to practice the skill or craft or share the skill and knowledge. This is the level of education regarded as higher education in the traditional society. The subjects of interest here include family crafts, secret organisations, religious priesthood, medicine (surgery, herbalism, faith-healing, massaging, heat-therapy, hydro-therapy) and divination, among others