We have just discussed the age of children in the early childhood stage. There are different names for the various establishments that take care of children at this stage. Such names as given by Kolawole (1989) and Maduewesi (1999) include:
Daycare or Playgroup: This establishment is for children below the age of three. There are many of them in urban centres in Nigeria. Working mothers use them as safe places to keep their children while they are at work. It can be home-based or centre-based. In the case of home-based, it may be in the child’s own home, a relative’s like grandparents’ home or somebody’s (a babysitter) home. This type of arrangement may be for profit or non-profit. When it is centre-based, it is no longer in the child's or a relative's home. It is an organized one which may also be for profit or non-profit. It may be owned by an individual, government, non-governmental organization or even a faith-based.
Daycare or Playgroup: This establishment is for children below the age of three. There are many of them in urban centres in Nigeria. Working mothers use them as safe places to keep their children while they are at work. It can be home-based or centre-based. In the case of home-based, it may be in the child’s own home, a relative’s like grandparents’ home or somebody’s (a babysitter) home. This type of arrangement may be for profit or non-profit. When it is centre-based, it is no longer in the child's or a relative's home. It is an organized one which may also be for profit or non-profit. It may be owned by an individual, government, non-governmental organization or even a faith-based.
Crèches: It is for children below three years. This establishment is usually located where the mother is working. They are usually available within the campuses of tertiary institutions, hospitals, markets or big factories. For example, there is one within the Campus of the University of Ibadan and another one at the University College Hospital also in Ibadan. This is usually separated from the pre-primary and primary schools.
Nursery School: This is also known as pre-primary school establishment. This is usually for children between three and five years in Nigeria. The nursery schools are common in urban centres as well as small towns in Nigeria. They are owned mainly by private individuals, groups, faith- based and institutions.
The Kindergarten: This normally refers to the school for children between five and six years. That is, children who are about to enter the primary school. This implies that such children must have completed their nursery school education. However in Nigeria, people tend to take the kindergarten and the nursery schools to mean the same thing. Only a few schools actually separate them while many do not even operate the kindergarten. This is why many children proceed to the primary school at the age of five after completing their nursery education.
For the purpose of our discussion here, we shall concern ourselves with the pre-primary or pre-school children's education. This is the age recognized in the National Policy on Education. This National Policy on Education (1998,2004, 2013) refers to pre-primary education as the education given in an educational institution to children aged 3 Р5 plus prior to their entering the primary school. In other words, we shall not be concerned much with the day care or cr̬che. Although, we may still have to refer to them, yet our attention will focus more on pre-primary education, which is for children who are within the age range of three and five.
Psychologically, the child is also ready for formal learning. You should know that up till the time of entering the primary school, the child's learning has been taking place in an informal way. Therefore, the child at six years is mature enough and ready to sit down and listen to formal teaching. He can now pay attention better than the earlier years. In the same way, the child is now capable of being less dependent on the parents. He can now play with other children and is capable of doing certain things for himself. He does not need to call for help again when going to the toilet. By the time the child finishes primary six at about the age of 11 or 12 years, he is better prepared for further education at the secondary school level. As for those who cannot, for some reasons, go to secondary school, they are also prepared for non-formal education such as becoming an apprentice to master (artisans) skills such as the tailoring, bricklaying, etc. Have you ever seen products of primary schools learning a trade or craft in your area? Are they able to cope with it?
From this discussion on why the primary school age is fixed at 6 to 12 years, you will know that primary education is very necessary for the child. We shall discuss more about the purpose of pre-primary and primary education in the next section of this unit.
Nursery School: This is also known as pre-primary school establishment. This is usually for children between three and five years in Nigeria. The nursery schools are common in urban centres as well as small towns in Nigeria. They are owned mainly by private individuals, groups, faith- based and institutions.
The Kindergarten: This normally refers to the school for children between five and six years. That is, children who are about to enter the primary school. This implies that such children must have completed their nursery school education. However in Nigeria, people tend to take the kindergarten and the nursery schools to mean the same thing. Only a few schools actually separate them while many do not even operate the kindergarten. This is why many children proceed to the primary school at the age of five after completing their nursery education.
For the purpose of our discussion here, we shall concern ourselves with the pre-primary or pre-school children's education. This is the age recognized in the National Policy on Education. This National Policy on Education (1998,2004, 2013) refers to pre-primary education as the education given in an educational institution to children aged 3 Р5 plus prior to their entering the primary school. In other words, we shall not be concerned much with the day care or cr̬che. Although, we may still have to refer to them, yet our attention will focus more on pre-primary education, which is for children who are within the age range of three and five.
Primary Education
The National Policy on Education (1998, 2004,2013) refers to primary education as the education given in educational institution to children aged 6 to 11 plus. That means, children who are not up to six years are not officially expected to be in the primary school. You may now be asking why are children expected to attain a particular age before they can start primary schooling? There are some reasons for this. For instance, there is the physiological factor. That is, by the time the child is six years old, the child should have been physically strong enough to withstand the rigours of school life. The child by the age of six should also be physically strong enough to walk to and from school particularly in places where the schools are far from home without any problem to his health.Psychologically, the child is also ready for formal learning. You should know that up till the time of entering the primary school, the child's learning has been taking place in an informal way. Therefore, the child at six years is mature enough and ready to sit down and listen to formal teaching. He can now pay attention better than the earlier years. In the same way, the child is now capable of being less dependent on the parents. He can now play with other children and is capable of doing certain things for himself. He does not need to call for help again when going to the toilet. By the time the child finishes primary six at about the age of 11 or 12 years, he is better prepared for further education at the secondary school level. As for those who cannot, for some reasons, go to secondary school, they are also prepared for non-formal education such as becoming an apprentice to master (artisans) skills such as the tailoring, bricklaying, etc. Have you ever seen products of primary schools learning a trade or craft in your area? Are they able to cope with it?
From this discussion on why the primary school age is fixed at 6 to 12 years, you will know that primary education is very necessary for the child. We shall discuss more about the purpose of pre-primary and primary education in the next section of this unit.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
- Identify and explain the differences among the pre-school establishments that take care of children from birth to five.
- Your answer should include the following:
- Day care – for children below the age of three. They are found in different places in all parts of Nigeria.
- Creches – for children below the age of three but such establishments are located within the premises of educational institutions, companies or markets where their mothers are working.
- Nursery — is also known as pre-primary. It is for children between 3 and 5 plus.
- Kindergarten — for children who are 5years old and are getting ready for the primary school level.
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