Second Term Lesson Note for Week Three
Class : SSS 1
Subject : Government
Topic : Advantages of Colonial Rules
Duration : 40 Minutes
Period : Single Period
Reference Book :
- Lagos State Unified schemes of work for Senior Secondary School, SSS 1 – 3.
- Essential Government for Senior Secondary School, Book 1.
- Online Resources
Instructional Material : Chart showing the advantages of Colonial Rules.
Learning Objectives : By the end of the lesson learners will be able to :
i. Mention the advantages of Colonial Rules System.
ii. Discuss the disadvantages of Colonial Rules.
iii. Compare and mention some differences between the British System of Indirect Rule and the French Policy of Assimilation.
Content :
ADVANTAGES OF COLONIAL RULE
While it is true that Africans had their own ways of educating their children, the fact that people could read and write made a significant difference in their understanding of the world
The establishment of educational institutions from the primary to the university level (The university college, Ibadan, was established in 1948 was a significant turning point in the Euro- African relationship
Exposure of Africans to the ideas of other people: Although for Africans this was from a positions of disadvantage, many elderly people still remember, many good things about the days of colonial rule.
DISADVANTAGES OF COLONIAL RULE
i. Total condemnation of the African way of life which left in Africans the feeling that they were inherently inferior to the Europeans
ii. Neglect of the rural areas on account of the concentration on the urban centers for the purpose of trade. Rural-urban migration remains a major problem for west African countries today
iii. Distortion of the socio-economic life of the people so as to preserve the interests of the colonialists
iv. Colonial administration introduced West African economies to the world at a time the Africans were not ready for it.
COMPARISON OF THE FEATURES OF THE BRITISH SYSTEM OF INDIRECT RULE WITH THOSE OF THE FRENCH POLICY OF ASSIMILATION
| British Indirect Rule System | French Policy of Assimilation |
| 1. Indirect rule of colonial administration | 1. Direct rule of colonial administration |
| 2. Made use of African traditional chiefs | 2. Did not make use of African traditional chiefs |
| 3. Traditional rulers served as the pivot of indirect rule | 3. Traditional rulers did not serve as the pivot of assimilation |
| 4. Traditional laws and customs were used in the administration | 4. Traditional laws and customs were not used in the administration |
| 5. It was not an expensive system of administration | 5. It was an expensive system of administration |
FUNCTIONS OF THE BRITISH COLONIAL GOVERNOR IN WEST AFRICA
1. He performed ceremonial functions e.g. conferment of honors and receiving of dignitaries
2. He reported to the crown through the secretary of state to the colonies
3. He formulated social and economic policies for the colony
4. He assented to all bills passed by the legislative council
5. He exercised all the powers of head of government on behalf of the British e.g. declaration of a state of Emergency, the exercising of the prerogative of mercy
Presentation Steps :
Step 1 : Revision of the previous lesson with the learners by asking questions orally.
Step 2 : Introduces the new topic by explaining the advantages of the colonial rules.
Step 3 : Identify and state the disadvantages of the colonial rules.
Step 4 : Compare and mentions the differences between the British Indirect Rules and the French Policy of Assimilation.
Step 5 : State the functions of the British Colonial Governors in West Africa.
EVALUATION :
1. Identify two advantages of the colonial rules.
2. Mention three disadvantages of the colonial rules.
3. State three functions of the British Colonial Governors in West Africa.
Conclusion : At the end of the lesson, learners were able to answer the questions correctly. The teacher makes some corrections.
ASSIGNMENT :
1. State three differences between the Indirect Rules and the Policy of Assimilation.