History of Education: From Ancient to indigenous learning

Explore the history of education from ancient civilizations to modern-day Nigeria. Discover indigenous learning, the impact of colonialism, and the different forms of education.

Education has always been part of human life. From the time of early man to today’s modern classroom, learning has taken many shapes. But to understand how we got here, we must go back in time. This post  explores the foundation of education, what it means, where it comes from, and how it began, especially in Nigeria.

Defining History and Sources of History

History refers to the systematic study of past events, particularly how they shape human societies and civilizations. It tells us what happened, when, how, and why—using evidence to explain and understand the past. In the context of education, it helps us see how learning has evolved through the ages. Studying history allows us to critically analyze the decisions and developments that led to our current educational systems. Britannica – Definition of History

Sources of history are the foundational materials used to study and write about historical events. These include:

• Primary sources – firsthand materials created during the time period being studied. These are raw evidence, like letters, official records, diaries, artifacts, oral traditions, and inscriptions. For example, ancient Egyptian papyri or early Islamic manuscripts in Northern Nigeria provide direct insight into historical educational practices.
• Secondary sources – interpretations or analyses written by others based on primary sources. These include books, articles, documentaries, or research papers that offer a perspective on past events.
• Tertiary sources – materials that summarize or index other sources, like encyclopedias and bibliographies. They provide a broad overview and guide researchers to more detailed sources.

These different types of  help historians reconstruct the educational practices of past civilizations, interpret their significance, and understand their influence on present systems.

Concept and Forms of Education

Education can be defined as the holistic process by which individuals acquire knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. It is a lifelong journey that starts from birth and continues throughout life. Education is not only what happens in a school building—it includes all ways we learn, grow, and share knowledge, fostering intellectual and social development. UNESCO – Forms of Education

Major Forms of Education:

• Informal Education: Unstructured learning that happens outside formal systems. It is embedded in daily experiences, stories from elders, or skills passed down through families and communities. For instance, a child learning how to fish from a parent or a teenager learning social norms through community interaction.
• Formal Education: Structured and systematic learning provided by institutions like schools, colleges, and universities. It follows a prescribed curriculum, has trained teachers, and is usually certified with grades and diplomas. This system is organized and intentional.
• Non-Formal Education: Organized learning outside the formal school system, often flexible and adapted to the needs of the learners. Examples include adult literacy programs, vocational training, community health workshops, or religious studies. It bridges the gap between informal and formal learning.

Understanding these forms helps explain how education evolves and adapts to cultural and social needs over time.

Concept of History of Education

History of education explores how learning has evolved over time. It looks at how societies passed on knowledge, values, and skills from generation to generation. It also helps us understand how political, religious, and economic systems profoundly influenced the purpose, content, and structure of education. Oxford Reference – History of Education

Studying this history provides answers to key questions:

• Why were schools created, and what was their initial purpose?
• How have teaching methods and curricula changed over centuries?
• What role did religion or colonialism play in shaping educational systems in different parts of the world?
• How do past systems and their legacies influence what we teach and how we learn today?

The history of education includes ancient schools in Egypt and Mesopotamia, the philosophical Greek academies, the influential Islamic learning centers in North Africa and the Middle East, and the emergence of missionary schools in Africa. In Nigeria, the story includes the intricate layers of indigenous, Islamic, and colonial influences, all of which contributed to the dynamic educational framework we experience today.

Concept of Indigenous Education

Before the arrival of Europeans and the introduction of formal schooling, Nigerians already had their own sophisticated systems of education. This is known as indigenous education. It was:

• Practical – directly tied to the community’s survival and well-being, teaching children the skills needed to farm, hunt, build, and thrive.
• Informal – without classrooms, formal teachers, or exams. Learning happened through observation, imitation, storytelling, and active participation in clife.
• Moral and spiritual – focused on instilling values like honesty, respect for elders, hospitality, and a connection to cultural and spiritual beliefs. Journal of Educational Research and Development – Indigenous Education in Nigeria

For example:

• Boys in the Yoruba region might learn drumming, farming techniques, or blacksmithing from their fathers or master craftsmen through a hands-on apprenticeship model.
• Girls in the Igbo community could learn food processing, childcare, intricate weaving, or pottery from their mothers and other female elders.

This type of education was highly effective in ensuring that culture, essential skills, and community identity were preserved and passed down successfully from one generation to the next.

Method of Teaching (Traditional and Early Methods)

In early education systems—especially indigenous and Islamic—the methods of teaching were fundamentally based on oral delivery, repetition, and practical experience. Teaching was primarily done through:

• Observation and imitation – a foundational method where children watched adults perform tasks and then copied their actions, learning through doing.
• Storytelling – elders shared folktales, myths, legends, and proverbs to not only entertain but also to teach lessons about history, morals, and social behavior.
• Apprenticeship – a formal arrangement where youth learned specific trades (like weaving, pottery, or healing) by working closely with skilled adults for an extended period.
• Memorization and recitation – a key method, particularly in Islamic schools where students recited verses of the Qur’an repeatedly to commit them to memory and internalize their teachings. UNESCO – Teaching Methods

These methods emphasized discipline, respect for authority, and the importance of hands-on, contextual experience over abstract theory. While there were no standardized curriculums, the transfer of knowledge was consistent, reliable, and culturally relevant. As Nigeria transitioned into colonial influence, some of these methods were retained even as newer, more formal ones were introduced.

Conclusion

Understanding the history and foundation of education is key to shaping the future. From oral traditions and indigenous learning to early formal methods, education in Nigeria has deep, multi-layered roots. These early forms helped preserve identity, values, and practical knowledge, even before schools existed as we know them today, laying the groundwork for the diverse educational landscape that has evolved over time.‌

In our next post, we will explore how ancient civilizations—like those in Egypt, Greece, China, and the Islamic world—formalized education into structured systems that influenced Europe, Africa, and eventually Nigeria. These developments created the blueprint for much of what we recognize as education today.