education [mass noun]

1. the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university : a course of education; the theory and practice of teaching : colleges of education; [count noun] a body of knowledge acquired while being educated : his education is encyclopaedic and eclectic; information about or training in a particular subject : health education; 2. [an education] an enlightening experience : Petrus is a good workman - it is an education to watch him. Derivatives - educationist noun.
- ORIGIN mid 16th century : from Latin educatio[n-], from the verb educare [see EDUCATE].

Oxford Dictionaries

Education in its broadest sense has existed since the beginning of time. In many instances, if you did not “learn” [and learn quickly !] you may not have survived. In this sense, education reflects the second definition provided above - an enlightening experience. Over time, as specific skill areas were developed, as people moved away from a more nomadic lifestyle, as more specific skills were required and developed, there was a gradual change to the first meaning in the definition above.

Education, in its formal sense, was initially restricted to particular classes within the population - the various religions and the wealthy. The idea of universal education was very slow to arrive and even when it did, it only covered a basic education until recent times, at least for most people. The concept of universal education - covering, primary, secondary and even tertiary levels, is a relatively recent one. Even this has gone through periods of greater and lesser accessibility.

Even today, the idea of universal education for all - male, female, wealthy, poor, urban, rural, irrespective of race or caste, is still to be fully implemented. Among those who have implemented it, development has been achieved at different rates and by different paths. It does, however, remain a primary aim of international bodies such as the United Nations.

This page looks at the history of education in countries across all continents around the world and, where appropriate, states or provinces within some countries [e.g. Canada, the US]. As well there is historical information, information about bodies interested in the history of education and links to other sources such as journals, documents and other research. Links will also be made to appropriate texts for use as reference.

The History of Education in Australia is not covered on this page. A separate page is provided to cover the of the formal education systems that were established in all states and territories.

This page is only a beginning and needs further expansion. If you can assist with information, sites, etc., relating to the history of education in your country/state/province, all suggestions will be considered and added where appropriate.

Countries by Continent

Africa

• History Of Education In Ghana
  This is a summary that covers from the Colonial Period through to the changes brought about in the 1980s.
• South African History of Education
  ‘History of Education affords one the opportunity to understand how and why the South African education system is the way it is. We thus aim to provide you with up-to-date information that will assist you as a student studying History of Education’. Multiple sections.

Asia

• History, Ministry of the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
  Presented in four periods from 1948 to the present and includes major changes.
• History of Education in China
  A fairly brief overview from the earliest periods. For Education in the People’s Republic of China, this Wikipedia site should prove a good starting point.
• History of Education in Japan
  6^th to 15^th century, 16^th century, Edo period, Meiji period, Pre-war 20^th century, Occupation period, Post-occupation period, 1980s. Education today, History of Women’s Education, notes, references. From Wikipedia. Though not renewed for some considerable time, the Statistics on the History of Education in Japan may also be useful for gaining data.
• History of Education in the Philippines
  A presentation which covers history and education today. You will find it difficult to read as it appears to omit virtually all lower case letter Rs. However, it does cover the basics.
• History of Thai Education
  Covers early Development, Reform and Modernisation and the Emergence of The Ministry of Education.
• Many Pathways, One Mission
  ‘Fifty Years of Singapore Education’. Taken from a book of the same name.

Europe

• Education in England : A Brief History
  ‘Education in England aims to provide students, teachers, lecturers and researchers with historical information including the full texts of some important documents. The site is divided into three main sections which can be accessed using the buttons at the top or bottom of every page’. Other data on the History of Education can be gained by accessing the National Archives.
• History of The Education System in Northern Ireland
  Timelines style presentation starting in 1920.
• History of the Ministry [Finland]
  ‘The Ministry of Education and Culture is one of the oldest ministries in Finland. It started in the early years of Autonomy as the Ecclesiastical Department in 1809’. Brief summary, mostly in point form.

North America

Canada

• British Columbia Perspectives : A Select Bibliography
  ‘This bibliography is by no means a comprehensive or exhaustive list of works relating to the history of schools in British Columbia. It is a selective list, intended to help identify some key sources within the broad field of education history’.
• Historical Statistics of Canada - Education
  Done in three sections and also available as a PDF download.
• History of Public Education in Alberta
  Information from the Alberta Teachers’ Association.
• The Homeroom
  ‘British Columbia’s history education web site’. Multiple sections from schools to textbooks, timelines, peoples and programs through to further links.

• Jamaica - Education, System, Schools
  ‘The education system and its administration were fashioned after the British system; and many of the developments in the history of Jamaican education can be seen as responses to events such as the abolition of slavery 1834, the advent of suffrage in 1944, and the achievement of independence in 1962’.
• Secretaría de Educación Pública
  A short presentation on the development of education in Mexico, at the national level. Translation could have been improved.

United States

• History of American Education Web Project
  Though not updated for some time, it is very extensive stretching from European Influences through to sections on periods from the Colonial [1600-1776] to the present.
• School : The Story of American Public Education
  From PBS. ‘Roots in history, Innovators, Evolving Classroom, Photo Gallery’, more. Links with a television series.
• States’ Impact on Federal Education Policy Project
  New York State Archives. ‘SIFEPP is creating a continually growing public resource on the role of states in shaping pre-K-12 federal education policy since the mid-twentieth century’.

Oceania

Note : Information about Australia is found on this page.

• American Samoa
  Information about the history of education from the Department of Education. You can also download a Master’s Thesis entitled Continuity and Change : Education Policy and Historiography of Education in Western Samoa which ‘explores the theme of continuity and change in Western Samoan education’.
• History of Education in New Zealand
  Origins of Primary school, origins of Secondary school, introduction of Technical High Schools, The Thomas Report - 1944, Integration, Recent developments, references. From Wikipedia.
• The Education System : A Concise History of the New Zealand Education System
  Suggested avenues for finding further information on this topic from collections in New Zealand.

South America

• Brazil - History Background [Education
  An overview of the development of education from ‘the second half of the sixteenth century’ to the present.
• Breve Historia De La Educacion Uruguaya
  A Brief History of Education in Uruguay. Covers the period from the beginning of the 18^th century to the present. In Spanish.

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Other Information

Associations & Groups

• Australian & New Zealand History of Education Society [ANZHES]
  ‘The aim of ANZHES is to collect and distribute information relating to the study, teaching and research in the history of education. A further aim is to sponsor and support such activities as may encourage research and exchange of ideas on the history of education’.
• Canadian History of Education Association
  ‘Founded in Calgary in 1980 to promote the study in Canada of the educational past’.
• History of Education Society
  ‘An international scholarly society. Among its purposes are : Promote and improve the teaching of the history of education; Encourage scholarly research in the history of education; The preservation of source materials in the history of education; Encourage cooperation among specialists in the history of education throughout the world’. Its Archival Resources are quite extensive.
• History of Education Society [UK]
  ‘The Society seeks to further the study of the history of education by providing opportunities for discussion among those engaged in its study and teaching’.
• ISCHE
  The International Standing Conference for the History of Education. ‘ISCHE has organised to : Foster research in the scholarly field of the history of education; Facilitate international contact, intellectual exchange, and cooperation between all who work in the field of the history of education; Develop an appreciation of the field of the history of education; Encourage the teaching of the history of education; Arrange and promote scholarly meetings, seminars, workshops, networks and publications’.
• Service d’histoire de l’éducation
  ‘La revue Histoire de l’éducation, Publications, French and International Events, Databases, Scientific instruments’, more. Mostly in French.
• Sociedade Brasileira de História da Educação
  ‘The Brazilian Society of History of Education aims to bring together Brazilian professionals who perform research and or teaching in the History of Education and encourage interdisciplinary studies, promoting exchanges with similar national and international experts in related fields’. In Portuguese.
• Sociedad Española De Historia De La Educación
  ‘You will find information here on the SEDH, outlining its activities, blogs, magazines and news of interest to the History of Education’. In Spanish.

General Information

• The History of Education
  An overview from early civilisations through to the 19^th century in Europe and the United States.
• UNESCO Milestones in Education
  50 years in Education. A misnomer as it actually starts in 1912, though the vast majority of milestones begin in the late 1940s.

Journals

• History of Education
  ‘History of Education has established itself as a leading, international, peer-reviewed journal, focusing on the history of education in all parts of the world’.
• History of Education Quarterly
  ‘Publishes topics that span the history of education, both formal and nonformal, including the history of childhood, youth and the family. The subjects are not limited to any time period and are universal in scope’. Viewable online.
• History of Education Review
  ‘The History of Education Review is the academic journal sponsored by ANZHES to publish research in the history of education and closely related fields’. Another listing of articles from this journal can be found using this link.
• Journal of Educational Administration and History
  ‘The central purpose is to communicate rigorous research that undertakes historical analyses of educational administration, leadership, management and policy’. Free sample copy available.
• Journal Of Philosophy And History Of Education
  Produced annually. A number of volumes are fully available online.
• Paedagogica Historica
  ‘A trilingual journal with European roots, Paedagogica Historica discusses global education issues from an historical perspective’. Free sample copy available.

Research & Documents

• Free Education Books - History of Education
  A small collection of books on the history of education.
• History of Education : Selected Moments of the 20th Century
  ‘This is a site about education during the 20^th century, organised by decades. It includes short descriptions of “educational episodes” that took place in that period. The episode in question could be a policy, a court case, a piece of legislation, a scholarly article, a theory, a project, a research report, …, or anything, big or small, that tells us something about education theory, policy, politics, research or practice during the last century. Education is understood here in its broadest sense, and not only as schooling’.
• The Online Books Page
  Access a wide range of books about the history of education. Select by using listed Broader or Narrower terms.
• The Origin and Ideals of The Modern School
  Francisco Ferrer, 1913. Available to read online or download as a PDF, text, or several other formats.

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