The Omaha guide., 1945-02-10


nous field and sets down in very
close detail the views and recon-
mendations of the committee re-
sponsible for it.
In brief the white paper states
that the task of educating every a.
dult African under the age Of fifty
can be accomplished in a generation
if it is vigorously attacked by mod
ern methods and with the cooperat-
ion Of the African himself.
IMPORTANT FEATURE
with the cooperation of the AT
rican himself. That is one Of the
most important features of the re-
port There is in all parts of the
Southern Provinces a strong demand
for education among parents and
children and parents will make the
biggest sacrifices to ensure that
their children go to school. Condi-
lions are perhaps not yet the same in
the Northern Provinces but the de-
sire must come and will come, for
nothing can prevent it.
"And how can the African help
himself? He al do SO now BY
making whatever learning he has
communal property to be shared b.
his family, kindred and clan-or. if
he lives in a large town, by the peo-
pie in his street. 1t does not mat
ter whether he has a Standard l or
a Middle VI pass-he has got some
thing to pass on.
In passing it on he will find that
he learns while he teaches for there
IS no better way of fixing facts in
ones mind than by repeating then.
and trying to impart them to others.
ATTACK LAUNCHED
The Ibadan branch of the Niger
AN Union of Teachers has already
launched its attack on il~Iiteracy and
! has drawn up an admirable, and
practical, guide to those teachers
who are prepared to put their know
ledge at the disposal of adults wish
ing to learn to read and write.
The aim is simply defined. ITO
teach adults to read and write Yo-
ruba within as short a time as DOS
sible." The union sees there IS no
time to waste: they know what thew
want and they are going to achiev,
1t as soon as possible.
PLAN FOR THE JOB
And this is how they will do It.
In the first place they invite teach
ers to start small classes of ten. or
less, pupil. Before tarting the class
the teacher is asked to make absolu-
tely sure that either he can keep it
up, or if for any reason he is called
away, a friend will be ready TO car
ry on his work.
No rigid rules are made for the
holding of the classes for the pupils
are adults who must not be treated
as children. The classes are held az
often as is convenient to pupils and
teachers. No elaborate apparatus is
employed, for script can be taught in
the early stages, as well in sand as
on a blackboard.
BROAD OUTLINES
Those are only the broad outlin-
es Of the scheme. They take only a
lew moments to write but they
mean hours and hours of solid hard
work bringing no remuneration to
the teacher other than the satisfac-
ton OF knowing that he is working
to help his own people.
IF this, or a similar plan, is a.
dopted in other centers in Nigeria.
Their a movement will be started "for
the people and by the people" agains,
n of the greatest barriers to pro-
gress in Nigeria-the il~literacy of
the vast majority Of her peoples"
The summary Of the white paper:
MASS EDUCATION"
"Whte Paper Emphasizes Need
For Self Help"
THE white paper published under
the title of Mass Education in At
rican Society" is one of the most inn
port papers to come from the Col
onial Office in recent years. It is
a plan for a direct attack on ignor.
ance, superstition, and il1iteracy in
half the continent of Africa.
For many years it has been
thought that the education of the
African people must take MANY
years. The writers of the white pa-
per take a different view. They be-
lleve It possible by direct attack and
by the use of modern methods. to
provide an elementary education TO,
all IN about II generation Geo wears
School accommodation for all should
be the first aim and in the early
stages quality must be sacrificed for
quantity. 1t is more important hat
all should know the 3 RS (readinq
writing and arithmetic) than that .
few should receive a higher educat-
ion.
SCHOOLING FOR ALL
But schooling for every child
a very ambitious scheme is on,,
part OF the plan. In the past Brit
ISL policy has been to educate = fep.
50 that they, in their turn, mich,
help to educate the masses. But This
rolicy has had its drawbacks. In
the first Mare II hoe -