BY LAJU IREN

Anyone familiar with the Nigeria sphere will agree that when it comes to policies, the issue is hardly ever with the policies themselves, but in the implementation. This is especially true of the education sector, which over the past few years has seen a myriad of positive changes on paper, but an even greater avalanche of negative features in practice.

A group photograph of stakeholders.

The Basic Education Curriculum, which focuses on the first nine years of education in the 9-3-4 system, has been posited by the National Education Research and Development Council, NERDC since 2005. The NERDC’s Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Godswill Obioma, had then laid out an action plan for the implementation of the new curriculum such that by end of school year 2015 the entire curriculum would have been implemented for all pupils and classes.

The NERDC planned to commence with new curriculum in primary 1 in September 2007 and gradually phase out the old primary school curriculum by 2012. It also implied that schools would concurrently commence with new curriculum in JSS 1 in September 2007 and gradually phase out old JSS curriculum by 2010. There were plans to review old school texts in compliance with the new curriculum, print and distribute necessary materials by Sept 2007.

There were also plans to develop new texts for new subjects and distribute such materials by September 2008. The NERDC had plans to, in collaboration with other relevant bodies, commence sensitisation of teachers and stakeholders in the contents of the new curriculum. But it was not to be, at least not within the stipulated time frame. The new curriculum commenced in primary schools only last year, as a result, the old one will be not be phased out until 2020-five years later than was originally planned.

Ironically, the NERDC instead of resting on its oars, still seems resilient in its duty to ‘preach the gospel’ of the new BEC across the country. The council is not alone, stakeholders, both in the public and private sector have their hands on deck as well. This was evident during the Learn Africa Mega Workshop for Primary school teachers held in Lagos recently. Director and Head, NERDC, South West Zone, Dr. Moses Salau, who was on hand to demystify the new curriculum to teachers began by justifying the need to review the old curriculum.

“We need to reduce the number of subjects these students are offering,” he said, “as it is primary school students in Nigeria are doing about 17-18 subjects which is work overload. At their level in the United States, students are taught 6 subjects, in Kenya, 7 subjects, in Uganda, 8, and in Malaysia and Indonesia, 10. There is also the need eliminate subjects that are now irrelevant, as well as to include and reflect national issues that are of concern in the basic education curriculum.

Such issues include, Security Education, Disaster Risk Reduction Education, Climate change and Peace and Conflict Education. We have now revised the BEC into ten subjects to reduce redundancy.” With the new development, students in primary one to four would be taught English Studies, Mathematics, Nigerian Languages, Basic Science and Technology, Pre Vocational Studies, Religion and Values Education, as well as Cultural and Creative Arts. Arabic language is also included, but as an optional subject.

Students in Primary four to six will also learn the same subjects, but French Language would be included. “The quality of education we are trying to promote at the basic level must include literacy, numeracy, manipulative, communication and life-long skills as well as a proper understanding of ethical, moral and civic values,” said Salau, “we have had cases were people would have finished primary school but are unable to read a single sentence or solve a simple numerical sum.

The issue of French Language is also pertinent because the only foreign language that most Nigerians speak is English, and that greatly limits our opportunities.” Salau is however quick to hammer on the issue of implementation. “However beautiful the curriculum might be, if welfare and capacity building is not considered for teachers, the end result might be disastrous. In the case of not having qualified teachers to teach some new subjects, the Federal Government has to be blamed, because we gave the government enough time to prepare teachers for the new curriculum.

We have to stop paying lip service to education. That is why we are in this fix we today. This thing started in 2005; that was a long time ago. It is the NERDC’s mandate to put together the curriculum, Government has had ample time to put the structures in place. However, despite the challenges, we will not rest. We will continue pursuing the implementation with vigour. That’s why I am always enthusiastic about seminars like this to preach the gospel of the curriculum to those who are interested.”

Learn Africa is largely responsible for development teaching and learning resources for the curriculum. MD/CEO, Mr. Segun Oladipo also agreed that teacher training is indispensable if the new curriculum is to succeed. His words: “ We believe that teachers are the most important school based factor in determining learning outcomes, second only to what children bring to school.

There is this general belief that no educational system can rise above the quality of its teachers, so the need to accord teachers and teacher education top priority in order to facilitate the achievement of education goals. Our country needs individuals with relevant skills and competencies to drive diverse sectors of the economy. The education system is responsible for putting in place institutions with the necessary environment, through which the citizens can prepare to excel in the future.

As you are well aware, the quality of learning materials has a significant influence on the effectiveness of the teaching process and the achievement of learning objectives. It is for this reason that Learn Africa Plc revises current publications and introduces titles in order to keep pace with changes in the curriculum requirements, expectations of teachers and the evolving needs of learners.

Mrs. Joy Ogeah, Director, Curriculum service department, Lagos state ministry of education, who represented the Lagos State Commissioner for education said that enforcing the curriculum has not only been limited to public schools. She said: “Last year, a committee was inaugurated by our honourable commissioner. All the private schools sent in their representatives. The issue was about the use of our curriculum.

Most of the private schools use our curriculum, but we still have a few who use foreign curricular because they are preparing the children to study abroad. But told them clearly that our curriculum has to be followed along with whatever curriculum they were using originally. We did not ask them to stop using theirs, but to inculcate our curriculum as well. They have made to pledge to us to do as we have said.”

Unbelievable home work excuses

Here are some of the funniest excuses a child can give a teacher when they haven’t done their homework. Unbelievable, but hilarious.

• I lost it fighting this kid you said you weren’t the best teacher in the school.
• I was mugged on the way to school and the mugger took everything I had
• Our puppy toilet trained on it.
• Some aliens from outer space borrowed it so they could study how the human brain worked
• I loaned it to a friend, but he suddenly moved away.
• I left it in my shirt and my mother mistakenly washed it
• I didn’t do it because I didn’t want to add to your already heavy workload