Centennial Landmarks in the Development of Basic Education in Nigeria

The first level of education known as the primary school education with the duration of six years programme was changed in 1992 by the Federal Government due to education reforms based on expansion on duration of programme and its content. For instance the primary school education (six- year programme) was merged with junior secondary school (first three  years in secondary school ) to form a nine- year programme for learners. Presently, the nine- year programme is the basic education level which is otherwise known as the first level of education in the Nigerian context. Primary school education started growing in Nigeria from the second half of the 19^th century through the activities of the Christian missionaries. This paper x- rays landmarks in the development of primary/ basic education during these periods: Christian missionary/ Colonial Administration and education before the amalgamation in 1914; Colonial Administration/ Christian missionary and education from 1914 to the 1940s; the Era of Self- governance and education from 1950 to the 1960s; the  reconstruction era and education in the 1970s to 1980s and the Federal Government task of executing Education For All (E.F.A) goals from the 1990s till date.