Scholarly Journal of Education Vol. 4(1), pp. 6-12, February 2015 Available online at http:// www.scholarly-journals.com/SJE ISSN 2315-6155 © 2015 Scholarly-Journals Full Length Research Paper One Hundred years of Education in Nigeria: Early childhood care and development Education in the Colonial and Post-Colonial periods Amakievi Okien Ijeoma Gabriel Institute of foundation studies Rivers state University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu Oroworukwo, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt. Email:
[email protected]. Abstract 16 February, 2015 Early childhood care development and education is a universal phenomenon that is practiced globally. In modern times it has become a part of the formal education system of some countries such as the United States and Finland. There are many other countries that provide it but have not integrated it into the formal educational system such as Australia, New Zealand, China, France, Germany, and so on. This study examined the development of Early Childhood Care Development and Education (ECCDE) in Nigeria in the past one hundred years, 1914 to 2014. Data for the study were generated from primary and secondary sources and they were quite revealing. ECCDE delivery has been controlled by non-governmental organizations and private individuals since 1914 in Nigeria. Faith based non-governmental organizations dominated in this area during the colonial period but private individuals have a formidable presence since the post-colonial period. Government made unsuccessful attempts at establishing and sustaining ECCDE centres but has continued to play a regulatory role. However, there is no uniformity in the curriculum, quality of teachers, equipment, facilities, teacher/pupil ratio, fees and activities among these ECCDE providers.