Administration and practice of adult education in the Lagos State of Nigeria

The purpose of the study was to highlight the adequacies as well as the inadequacies of the Lagos State Government's provisions for adult education with special reference to functional literacy, continuing and remedial education and vocational training.It was aimed at acquainting the planners and executors of adult education in the State with the magnitude of the assignment apportioned to them at State level in the execution of adult education as contained in the 'national policy on education' section 7, paragraph 52 (a-e) and as suggested by the 'implementation committee for the national policy on education' which are included in the introduction to the study.A brief historical, geo-political, socio-economic and educational background of the area referred to as Lagos State is given in two parts in chapter one. Part one deals with the location, size, population, occupation and administration. Part two deals with the State's education system at the various levels of nursery, primary, secondary, post-secondary and higher education together with the general administration of education in the State.Also in this chapter, the problems facing the 'Administration and Practice of Adult Education’ in the State as observed by the researcher, which prompted this study are also stated. All the problems were individually stated with research questions for the researcher to find answers to, with the use of interview questions with which all those connected with adult education in the State were interviewed. Their responses were analysed for the purpose of identifying the basic causes of the problems. so as to suggest workable solutions to them.Chapter two deals with a review of the literature on adult education: books, journals, magazines, newspapers, committees and conference reports, unpublished theses and dissertations. This chapter amplifies the purpose of the study as the review brings to a clearer light, the aims and objectives of adult education both at national and international levels. Emphasis is laid on mass adult literacy education and its advantages and the evil effects of illiteracy on the individual and national development.Also in the review, the modus operanda of adult education in different countries are highlighted for adult education planners to study and modify to suit their needs.The language factor in adult education is also dealt with. As English language is currently the official language of all businesses and for political administration in Nigeria, it is suggested that in addition to the Yoruba language which is the mother tongue of Lagos State, English language should also be used for adult literacy in Lagos State. Other areas covered in the review include the financing of adult education, methodology of adult education with emphasis on adult learning. The questions, who is the adult and what is adult education are also answered in the review.Extracts quoted from American books which contain Americanisms in the spelling of certain words such as program, favor, behavior etc, are written in their pure original English forms as programme, favour, behaviour etc. This is done for the purpose of uniformity.Chapter three explains the methodology of the study. It deals with the strategy of the interviews, the selection of subjects, selection and training of interviewers, interviewing and recording of interviewees responses. The problems encountered during the process of the interviews are also related in this chapter.The major problems include making contact with interviewees, language, coordinating the activities of interviewers, recording of responses and finance.Chapters four, five, six, seven, eight and nine deal with the analysis and discussions of the findings from the responses of the interviewees in the six categories of respondents. Each of the six chapters deals with one category in detail.Chapter ten is the summary, discussions and recommendations. It deals with a brief summary of the problems, methodology and conclusions from the findings. The limitations of the study and implications of the conclusions from the findings are also stated. Also included in this chapter are recommendations for further research into the problems of adult education provision in the State as this study was only a search-light focussing on the problems and prospects in the ‘Administration and Practice of Adult Education in the Lagos State of Nigeria'