The Social Impact Of Upe

At least officially, UPE was launched to improve the welfare of Nigeria’s people, and to promote balanced social development. So far discussion has focused principally on the impact of external factors on the school system. This chapter is more concerned with the impact of schools on society, and thus with the third level of quality discussed in the Introduction. Concerning the role of the school in the wider context of social change, two main views are discernible. 1 The first, which is either explicitly or implicitly held in Nigeria by most politicians and governments, suggests that the school system can by itself actively shape society. Both official and ‘hidden’ curricula have a major effect on pupils’ attitudes, and therefore, it is argued, socially desirable attitudes, such as a national rather than a tribal outlook, can be inculcated through the school system.