CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
Book and Vondracek (2006) highlighted several past involvements of
adult education in the preservation of culture to enhance access since
medieval times when monks fastidiously transcribed documents by hand.
They also indicated that adult education began massively in tertiary
institutions to successfully reformat thousands of rare collections and
crumbling culture as effective means of preserving our societal
heritage. They further noted that digitization can also be the first
step in conducting advanced research on historical materials and
ancient documents present a prime candidate for digitization because of
their historical imports, combined with century of exposure and
degradation. Digicult (2003) concluded that “adult educationcontributes
to the conservation and preservation of heritage and scientific
resources, crates new educational opportunities, can be used to
encourage tourism and it provides ways of improving access by the
citizen to their patrimony”. Also, in recent times, adult education has
played major parts in the preservation of cultural heritage. Making
high quality images available electronically can reduce wear and tear of
fragile items. According to Jones (2001), we live in an increasingly
digital world.
Hundreds of libraries, museums and archives have recently launched
projects designed to digitize their collections and place them on the
web. According to Stephen Ostrow cited by Jones (2001), this trend is
both “auspicious and ominous for cultural heritage institutions”. The
main reasons to digitize are to enhance assess and improve
preservation. By digitalizing their collections, cultural heritage
institutions can make information that was previously only available to
a select group of researchers accessible to all. Digital projects
allow users to search collections rapidly and comprehensively from
anywhere at any time (Jones 2001). One of the primary problems
confronting library profession is lack of commitment by the available
human resources, particularly, in the areas of information and
communication technologies (ICTs) and preservation of resources on
cultural heritage. The knowledge explosion brought about by the
acceleration of scientific and technological progress is adding a new
dimension to education, capacity building, amongst other essential
human development endeavours. Librarians, irrespective of their levels
in the professional hierarchy must possess the conceptual knowledge,
skills and attitudes relevant to the performance of their jobs.
Training refers to the manifestation of knowledge, skills and attitudes
in a person which enables him to apply them in his work situation. In
essence, education is to cause a permanent change in behaviour
potential of the concerned individual and it is regarded as the key
with which to unlock the stores of knowledge and for their use by the
society. As a result of its importance for professional upliftment,
libraries have often tried to inculcate some desirable professional
orientations in their personnel through training. Digitization can also
be the first step for conducting advanced research on historical
materials. Ancient documents present a prime candidate for digitization
because of their historical import, combined with centuries of
exposure and degradation habits in their arrangement. However, Oketunji
(2001) observed that the library schools are inadequate in meeting the
challenges of modern information technologies owing to lack of
financial resources to procure the necessary equipment needed for the
training of students.
Similarly, Singh (2004) argued that skill in information
Technology (IT) can be gained only when one gets hands on training and
experience in laboratories under simulated conditions or in real life
situations. The graduates and past graduates turned out by library
schools do not possess adequate skill and expertise to interact
confidently with IT specialists, evaluate what is recommended by their
and full fall their requirements. A study by Lee, Traurh, and Farwell
(1995) has indicated “that inducting will demand a cadre of IT
professionals with knowledge and skills in technology, business
operations, management, and integration and process re-engineering
activities”. This paper seeks to answer five questions. First, it looks
into the forms of professional training received by librarians in
Federal Universities in the Southeast Nigeria as to ascertain their
ability in meeting the accessibility and preservation of our cultural
heritage. Second, it ascertains various formats of cultural heritage
available in our institutions and environment. Third, it examines
various traditional and electronic methods used by the studied
libraries in preserving these rare cultural materials. Fourth, it
identifies institutions involved in digitization of these materials,
and fifth, the problems confronting these institutions in their efforts
to provide access and preservation of cultural materials.
1.2 Statement of the problem
Today, Africa remains the world’s poorest continent.
There could be several reasons for this but one of the key ones is that
education has not been relevant to the needs of the society.
Substantial resources have been expended to boost education in Africa,
even though such resources may not have been adequate. The basic
problem is that educational structures were formulated by colonialists
who had a cultural background different to that obtaining among
Africans. Decades of self-rule and independence have not succeeded in
empowering Africans through enabling them determine their educational
framework. In part, this difficulty is a result of the continued social
and economic ties between African countries and their former
colonizing powers. Although Africa is politically independent, it
remains technologically and economically dependent on countries that
colonized it. Current educational structures are meant mainly to foster
this bond, rather than reduce it. Reforms in African education were
conceived and implemented within the framework of this relationship,
hence they did not go far enough to develop and foster African culture.
1.3 Significance of the study
Efforts to preserve resources on cultural heritage have
gained new momentum throughout the world nowadays. Protecting cultural
heritage is economical, as well as historical and also a cultural
process. While cultural heritage preservation has not yet become firmly
rooted in the Nigerian consciousness as football is, a great number of
people and organizations see cultural resources as critical to the
nation’s economic development through tourism. Cultural heritage is
based on the aspects of our past that we cherish, want to keep and pass
on to future generations and outside world. However, the economic
benefits of preservation are secondary to the intrinsic value of that
heritage which is been preserved.
Based on the bases above, it is therefore worthwhile to
examine the essence of preserving our culture through Adult Education
in our society.
1.4 Objectives of the study
1. To identify a relationship between adult education and cultural heritage.
2. To deduce whether adult education will influence the
preservation of the cultural heritage of the people of Ikwerre Local
Government Area in Port Harcourt.
1.5 Research questions
1. Is there a relationship between adult education and cultural heritage?
2. Can adult education influence the preservation of the
cultural heritage of the people of Ikwerre Local Government Area in
Port Harcourt?
1.6 Research hypotheses
Ho: There is no relationship between adult education and cultural heritage.
Hi: There is a relationship between adult education and cultural heritage.
Ho: Adult education cannot influence the
preservation of the cultural heritage of the people of Ikwerre Local
Government Area in Port Harcourt.
Hi: adult education can influence the
preservation of the cultural heritage of the people of Ikwerre Local
Government Area in Port Harcourt.
1.7 Limitations of the study
- Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the
efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials,
literature or information and in the process of data collection
(internet, questionnaire and interview).
- Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in
this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down
on the time devoted for the research work.
1.8 Scope of the study
The study focuses on the influence of adult education in the preservation of Ikwerre cultural heritage in Port Harcourt.
1.9 Definition of terms
Adult Education: This is a practice in
which adults engage in systematic and sustained self-educating
activities in order to gain new forms of knowledge, skills, attitudes,
or values.
Culture: This is a way of life of a
group of people--the behaviors, beliefs, values, and symbols that they
accept, generally without thinking about them, and that are passed
along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next.
Cultural Heritage:Thisis the legacy of
physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society
that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and
bestowed for the benefit of future generations.
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