CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the study
Generally in the whole world, particularly in Nigeria, education has
been considered to be the corner – stone for development. It forms the
basis for literacy, skill acquisition, technological advancement and ability
to harness human and material resources towards the achievement of
societal goal, (FRN, 2004).
Education is very important in any given society. It is a process by
which abilities and capabilities of individual are developed. These
abilities might be physical abilities, emotional abilities, social abilities and
intellectual abilities. It is the actualizing of human potential so that the
individual can become something more than what he was before.
According to Ugwuanyi (2003) education is the process by which society
establishes to assist the young to learn and understand the heritage of
the past, participate productively in the society and contribute
meaningfully for the development of the society. Emeka (2008) citing
Kneller (2000) sees education as a process by which any society
through schools, colleges, universities and other institutions deliberately
transmit knowledge, values and skills from one person to another. As a
result of deregulation in Nigerian education, the system of education has
two main interest groups – public education and private education.
Public education is the pillar or backbone of society which opens
the door of equal educational opportunity to all citizens. It is a public
owned property which attracts public attention constantly. According to
Ukeje in Akpa, Udoh and Faghamiye (2005):
Public school is concerned with the acquisition of
appropriate skills, abilities and competencies of both
mental and physical nature as equipment for the
individual to live in this society, and acquisition of a
relevant and balanced knowledge of facts about local
and world phenomena. (P. 12-13)