INTRODUCTION
The activities of the British administration in Nigeria were on the increase daily, and these activities demanded additional responsibilities from the colonial government, especially on the area of improved education. Attempts by the colonial administration to solve these problems through grants-in-aid and ordinances, appeared to give temporary relief but could not settle the problems. This unit examines the impact of the important, but independent commission – Phelps-Stokes commission on the education development in Nigeria.OBJECTIVES
By the end of this study, you should be able to:- State the meaning and composition of the Phelps-Stoke Commission;
- List out the objectives of the commission;
- Discuss the recommendations of the commission;
- Examine the impact of the commission on Nigeria education.
MEANING AND COMPOSITION OF PHELPS-STOKES COMMISSION
The Phelps-Stokes Commission is a philanthropic organization in America. It was instituted in 1911 by Miss Caroline Phelps-Stokes to enhance the religion and education of black peoples in Africa and the United States of America. The Foreign Mission’s Conference of North America appealed to the trustees of the fund to support a study of education in Africa.It is necessary to recall that the early efforts made by the colonial government in the way of ordinances, establishment of schools, supervision and funding of education, among others, appeared to have made little impact in Nigeria and other African countries. Nationalists from different African countries became very vocal and these agitations were put in print and audio media across the globe. These agitations attracted the initiative of the American Baptist Foreign Missionary Society in making a comprehensive study of the needs and resources of Africa so as to provide them relevant education. Since it was in line with the objectives of the Phelps-Stokes Foundation, it approached the foundation for fund through their trustees. It was granted. Hence, the name of the Commission became known as Phelps-Stokes Commission.
The Commission had seven members with Dr. Thamos Jesse Jones, an African sociologist, as the chairman. Dr. Jones was both the Education Director of the Phelps-Stokes funds and the Director of Research at Hampton Institute, Virginia, which was a renowned center for studies in the education of members of black race. Dr. James Emman Kwegyir Kodwo Aggrey, a famous African educationist from Gold Coast (now Ghana) was also a member. Others were Henry Stanley Hollenbeck, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Wilkie of Church of Scotland Mission, Calabar and Leo, A. Roy. Objectives of the Phelps-Stokes Commission
The commission was set up in 1920 to:
- inquire into the educational work done in each of the areas to be studied at that time;
- investigate the educational needs of the people with special reference to the religious, social, hygienic and economic conditions;
- ascertain the extent to which item two above is being met;
- report fully the result of the study (Fafunwa 1974 p. 120).
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