List and discuss the roles traditional education in the successes of

western education
Background of education
Education aim is to offer direction to the educated individual. Its main aim is to inspire a
student attain the set at his best. There are different aims of education like; social aim, moral
aim, intellectual aim, vocational aim, spiritual aim, knowledge aim, digital center and
citizenship aim.

Traditional education source

Traditional education is the foundation of curriculum. In a traditional learning method, the
teacher is in complete control of the learning environment.
Traditional education focuses on the following:
 Training the individual’s intellect
 Teaching skills
 Instilling a sense of pride in the individual and respect for self, others and
country
 Equipping students with the necessary skills to become decision makers and
problem solvers
 Preparing students for the world outside by challenging them to compete for
achievement of standards in the classroom
 Developing an atmosphere of tolerance and acceptance of all students
regardless of physical appearance and culture.

Traditional education also helps to:

 Develop the child’s latent physical skills
 Develop the those in positions of authority
 Develop the child’s intellectual skills
 The child acquire specific vocational training and a healthy attitude towards
honest labour
 Develop the child’s sense of reasoning

Western education emphasizes the individual’s creativity and critical thinking. It focuses just
as much on personal development as we do academic. It encourages students to ask
questions, participate in debate, explore diverse perspective, fostering independent thought
and create innovation.

With the arrival of Europeans in West Africa in the 15 th Century, which preceded formal
conquest and pacification, missionaries took the lead in introducing western education as
indispensable tools for effective evangelism.

Subsequently, the various Europeans Colonial Government appropriated education as a

means of consolidating colonial rule in West Africa. By the middle of the 19 th century,
Western education became to produce a New educated elite at the core of which were
liberated “Slaves”

Western education began in Liberia during the early stages of this settlement. The providence
Baptist Mission opened the first Elementary day school in 1822 for the children of its church
members. Soon, other missionary groups for America followed this Lead.

The first Institution of higher education was established in Monrovia in 1862 under the
auspices of the Massachasetts state Colonization Society and the Turs-tee of Donations for
education in Liberia.

Traditional Education successes in Western education

In the traditional education, teaching was basically example and learning by doing. African
education emphasizes equal opportunity for all; Social, solidarity and homogeneity. It was
complete relevant to the needs and expectation of both individual and society. This is because
it was an integral part of social, political and economic foundation of the African society.
However, the advent of the Europeans missionaries and the introduction of Western
education through mission school changed in many fundament ways, the dynamic of African
education.
Western education soon took the center stage in Africa debasing, challenging, and
supplanting the traditional informal education along with its cultural foundation.

The missionary concern for Africa was for two major fronts:

1. To help encourage African abandon inhuman trade in slaves

2. To teach Africa natives the noble way of life

The missionary agenda was to convert African to Christian through the medium of education
with the Bible as the major master text. The ability to read and understanding the Bible
became an overriding index of success for the missionaries.

Soon, earlier African converts began to feel the yoke of a religion that was closely tied to
European culture and colonialism and they challenge not only the teaching of the
missionaries but mission schools’ curricula and Institutions.

African church Leaders saw the Bible as applicable to all humankind. They also considered
the second coming of Jesus Christ as signaling an end to oppression and colonialism.

Similarly, the idea of private school began to gain ground in order to check cultural alienation
and include secular education in the curricula