ABSTRACT
One of the major defects in the Nigerian educational system is the low priority accorded to technical and vocational education. As in most former British colonial territories, education in Nigeria was conceived largely as purely literary education. The Eastern Regional government had less time than the Western to plan its own scheme. The period 1950—60 will also probably go down in the history of Nigerian education as one of the most dynamic eras in educational innovation. In February 1957, the universal primary education scheme was launched. Technical and vocational education in one form or another was in vogue before the introduction of Western education to Nigeria. The free primary education scheme in the West and the half-free and half-fee-paying scheme in the East, diminished enthusiasm for the adult education scheme. This was mainly because the enormous cost of free primary education left little money for adult education.
