CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

1.1            INTRODUCTION

Education in its broad perspective is life long process which aims at equipping individuals effectively with acceptable skills, knowledge, beliefs, facts and competences that will enable him to cope favourably with the challenges of the society. It comprises all efforts, conscious or direct, incidental or indirect made by a given society to accomplish certain objectives that are considered desirable in terms of individuals needs as well as the needs of the society were the program is based. The most important role of education is that it serves as veritable instruments to counter the constraints posed by a dynamic society where man lives.[1]

This chapter gives a general background to this discourse. It introduces the reader to what the researcher has done in the course of this research. Thus the chapter provides the aim and objectives of the study and as well as the methodology the researcher has used in carrying out this research work. It also contributes to knowledge generally. The chapter also examine the geography of Makarfi and its actual foundation as both a political and commercial capital.

Makarfi is situated in Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna state. The earliest inhabitants of Makarfi were the Hausa and Fulani. Today the area is populated with different ethnic groups i.e. nupe, Yoruba The area is blessed with resources like fertile land and other natural resources which provide opportunities for human habitation. Majority of the people in the area were farmers and the staple crops grown include, sugarcane, cow-pea, groundnut, sorghum   maize, beans rice etc. they practice subsistence farming using local farm imputes. Other economic activities practice in the area included domestication of animals, local industries (crafts), and engagement in small scale enterprise.[2] This research attempt to examine the impact of women education in Makarfi L.G 1976-2000 for a much understanding of this research work there will be need to first examine the socio-political and economic organisation of the area and then go further to examine the nature of indigenous education in Makarfi before the advent of colonial rule. The research also examines the colonial rule and the advent of western education, as well as the development of women education shall also be examined. The research goes forward to assess the impact of women education in Makarfi, this will be backed up by raising issues like early marriage, poverty, insurgency etc. and how those problems were overcame in Makarfi prior to the women educational development. At last the research comes to examine the relative contributions of women to economic, political and social development in Makarfi. The reason that led to the witness and growth of women embarked in education during the period of study shall also be examined. The research is divided into five chapters. Chapter one gives the general background of the study. Chapter two deals with the study area and socio-political   formation. Chapter three focuses on women education before colonial rule and the advent of western education. Chapter four analyses the impact of women education on Makarfi. And the last chapter deals with the summary, conclusion and recommendation.

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Women’s education has been generally neglected to the background for ages and this explains why they occupy a low place in the educational sector. In Makarfi specifically, the place of women education has not yet been explored or interpreted in the context of historical reality and perspective. One of such issues is the question of women education and their relative contribution to the development of Makarfi. This issue has either been neglected by scholars and effort to venture into this research has proved abortive.

Though, it might seem that women are making giant stride in education in Makarfi there are still no statistical and empirical record to show for it. Women education affects all sectors of the Makarfi society, hence it needs to be studied and assessed.

1.3       OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1.     To investigate the nature of indigenous (traditional) Education in Makarfi

2.     To trace the history and development of Western Education in Makarfi L.G.A

3.     To examine the attempt made to educate women in Makarfi

4.     To assess the contribution of women education in Makarfi

5.     To examine the challenges of Women Education in Makarfi.

6.     To highlight the impact of women education in Makarfi.    

1.4       SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is expected that every research project must have something to contribute to knowledge in that subject area. Therefore, one of the significance of this research is to assess and document the impact of women education in Makarfi. The work examines the effort put in place to educate women in Makarfi and also examine the effort put in place by the women to get educated.

The research also points out the issue of gender inequality, economic problem, poverty, culture and early marriage. This has assisted our understanding of the problems faced by women in Makarfi.

The study also examined the attempt at establishing women educational facilities in Makarfi. This aided our understanding of efforts put in place to enhance women education. This research will serve as a template for women’s education development and provoke further research on women.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1.     To investigate the nature of indigenous (traditional) Education in Makarfi

2.     To trace the history and development of Western Education in Makarfi L.G.A

3.     To examine the attempt made to educate women in Makarfi

4.     To assess the contribution of women education in Makarfi

5.     To examine the challenges of Women Education in Makarfi.

6.     To highlight the impact of women education in Makarfi.    

1.5       SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This work is structured to cover the period 1976-2000 in Makarfi. Makarfi is located in the centre of northern Nigeria, located in Makarfi province. The year 1976 witnessed the introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE) to make education free and compulsory. This gave rise to the outstanding growth in the number of schools in Makarfi .i.e. ‘Central Primary Schools’. And as well they tried to assist most parents economically on taking their girls to school. Another point to note was that at the presence or introduction of western education in Makarfi, parents did denied the aspiration of taking their daughters to school due to religious and cultural beliefs and while marrying them at early age 16, 17, 15 years.[3] However the presence of such literate women pioneers in Makarfi mentioned above started to convince most parent population in Makarfi to start taking their girls to school. The choice of 2000 as the terminating date of our study hinges on the fact that the association women in politics had influenced majority of the population of Makarfi to carry their girls to school and as well witnessed the establishment and development of more schools in Makarfi which came to add up to the available schools.

With regard to limitation, the research focused on the impact of women education in Makarfi from 1976-2000. Moreover the research examines hoe women education developed during the period of study, stating the challenges and how they overcame those problems. Due to the nature of my research, some problem arises such as financial resources, access to data, the time frame allowed for conducting the research. However these problems were overcame by the use of oral interviews conglomerated with the data at hand to achieve a good research.

1.6            CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION

The major concept to clarify in this study is Education.

Fafunwa A.B made an analysis on education that education is the aggregate of all the process by which a child or young adult is develop and the abilities, attitudes, and other form of behaviours which are of positive value to the so

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