CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background to the Study
The early school in Nigeria, were established by the Christian Missionaries and the objective of the early Christian Missionaries was to convert the “Leaten” or the benighted Africans to Christianity via Education. The early Missionaries realized essential for a good orally and in uniting and also the importance of training preferably through the media of English and Local Language.
The First known school was established in 1843 by Mr. and Mrs. De Graft of the Methodist Mission in Badagry. There were fifty (50) Boys and Girls attending the school regularly. Rev. Samuel Ajayi Crowther and Rev. C.A. Gollmer accompanied Rev. Townsend back to Badagry in 1844 where they started a church, a school and a mission house. They equally started a school which was attended by 52 adults in 1846. The CMS moved to Abeokuta, thereby making it the first mission to move to the interior part of Nigeria. In Abeokuta, immediately they started two schools, for boys and the other for girls.
In 1846, the Presbyterian mission arrived at Calabar and established a station while the Southern Baptist Convention from American opened a school in Ijaye in 1853.
In 1855, another school was opened in Ogbomoso, so also, in Lagos. The Baptist mission spread to Abeokuta where elementary school was opened in 1955 under the supervision of Mrs. M.R Prest.
The Roman Catholic came in 1868 and established it’s first school and within few years had over 400 pupils.
By 1857, the Niger Mission opened a school at Gbede and Onitsha by Rev. S.A Crowther and Rev. J.C Taylor. Another at Iddo, then followed by others at Akassa and Bonny. Primary education was initially provided by the churches. Such Christian bodies include the Christ Missionary Societies, Catholic Church, Methodist Church, Seventh Day Adventist Church and the Baptist Christian Missionaries.
Immediately Nigerians got involved in their Regional Government, the interest of Local Government Authorities towards education increase and Local Authority Primary (L.A) Schools were established especially in the Western Region.
Initially, Public institutions were established by Local Authorities and they control affairs of such schools. Muslim schools were later introduced into the country and many Muslim Primary schools were established in the 50S and 60S.
It is worthy to note that some of the L.A. schools later offered free education while some non-governmental schools were paying tuition fees.
In the years, private institution becomes the common responsibility of individual and groups as government encouraged the establishment of such schools. Nowadays, in Nigeria, there are many private schools.
This research work is purposely meant to access the academic performances of learners in Public and Private Primary Schools in Isokan Local Government Area of Osun State.
1.2. Statement of Problem
Primary education is the foundation of all educational processes. It is a laudable level of Education aimed at producing children who would be literate especially in the 3Rs (Reading, Arithmetic and Religious Studies) plus writing.
It is the purpose of this study to assess the academic performances of learners in both public and private primary schools in Isokan Local Government Area of Osun State.
1.3. Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study is to find out and compare the academic performances of the pupils in the public and private primary schools within Isokan Local Government.
This study will give suggestions towards what could make private and public primary schools achieve their purposes and functions effectively in the society.
Besides, it is to suggest areas of further researches and recommendations which could later enhance successful achievement of primary schools’ aims and objectives.