Origins of Western Education and Persistent Inequities in Access to Education

This text discusses the origins and spread of mass education in Nigeria and explores how conflicting interests, particularly between Christian missions and the colonial government, affected access to education. It highlights persistent inequities in educational attainment between the northern and southern parts of the country. The study examines the timing and type of the earliest schools, showing that government schools in restricted areas were slow to establish, limiting access to education for a significant portion of the population. In contrast, mission schools were more inclusive. The analysis suggests that the spread of education was faster in areas where missions were allowed, contributing to the education gap between northern and southern Nigeria.