Nigeria Rolls Out New Curriculum For Basic And Senior Secondary Education
The federal government has rolled out a new curriculum for Basic Education and Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria, effective from this month.
The government said that the new curriculum was designed to incorporate knowledge, skills, and values, especially with a special focus on skills, so that students on graduation would have skills that they could effectively connect with the economy and have a productive life.
The government also announced an end to the use of paper for the official activities and communications of the Federal Ministry of Education.
It said the ministry has developed a digital communication portal through which official ministry activities will be conducted.
The government said the world has gone digital; hence, the ministry will leverage the technological advancements, and not be left behind in digitalising its activities for enhanced efficiency, productivity, and service delivery to Nigerians
Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman announced this on Thursday in Abuja while declaring open the Ministerial Session of the 68th National Council on Education (NCE) for 2024 with the theme: “Innovation, Digital Technology and Entrepreneurship: Tools for Education and National Development in the 21st Century.”
The NCE, which has the Minister of Education as Chairman, is the highest policy-making body in education and is expected to officially approve the new curriculum, among other recommendations of the Officials’ Meeting headed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education.
The minister noted that the existing curriculum had become obsolete and that there was a need to infuse skills and technology in line with the national skills framework.
Mamman said: “The world we live in and its future is very different from the times of old. Today, we share a common challenge that the country’s educational curriculum is in danger of becoming obsolete as technology is disrupting every industry, including education.
“A well-designed and effective curriculum determines sustainable development, quality, and the relevance of education. This is the main reason why this Administration places priority on the institutionalisation of curriculum development in the overall context of education.
“The Ministry is about rolling out a new curriculum for Basic Education and Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria from this October, designed to incorporate knowledge, skills, and values, especially with a special focus on skills, so that students, when they graduate, will have skills that they can connect with the economy and have a productive life.”
He also disclosed that the government has completed the review of 15 trades and entrepreneurship subject curricula for the senior secondary education level.
The minister commended the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) for developing the curriculum, noting that the Council worked tirelessly under his constant watch, encouragement, and sometimes harassment to deliver the reviewed curriculum.
Mamman also revealed that the implementation of the reviewed Tertiary Education Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) has commenced in universities across the country while efforts were on to review the National Policy on Education.
The minister noted that as part of efforts to strengthen teacher education, the government had also reviewed the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) curriculum in collaboration with the British Council and other stakeholders.
He used the occasion to clarify issues around the 18-year age limit for university admissions.
He announced plans to create guidelines on the implementation of the age limit for admission to cater for exceptional students who might be below the age limit.
The minister said: “There is a need to clarify yet again the misrepresentation on the issue of the 18 years age limit for admission to universities, which was earlier mentioned.
“The Ministry was only drawing attention to the age requirement for entry into tertiary institutions as enshrined in the National Policy on Education (6-3-3-4 System); the UBEC Act and Education (Minimum) Standards Act 1993 and not the age limit for students participating in WAEC, NECO, NBAIS, NABTEB or any ordinary level examination.
“However, the ministry acknowledges that some children are exceptionally intelligent and the Ministry will work out a guideline to deal with cases of genuine exceptionally intelligent learners.”
