Implementation of revised education curriculum to commence in September – NERDC

Prof. Godswill Obioma, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council, on Monday said the implementation of the revised Nine-Year Basic Education Curriculum would begin begin in September.
Obioma disclosed this at a public presentation of the revised basic education curriculum and kick-off of the training of school teachers on the use of the teachers’ guide in Abuja.
He said: “The implementation of the curriculum will begin from primary one and Junior Secondary School one and gradually phasing out the old curriculum.
“We advice that this implementation strategy be strictly adhere to, to avoid irregular implementation.
“Since the curriculum represents total experiences to which learners must be exposed to, the contents, performance objectives, activities for both teachers and learners, evaluation guides as well as components in the overall logical frame must be adopted.
“Teachers are encouraged to enrich the content with relevant materials and information from their immediate environment.”
Obioma decried the approval of only N30 million by the National Assembly as against the N270 million proposed in the 2014 budget by the ministry of education.
He said: “Of the N270 million proposed in the 2014 budget and admitted by our parent industry and office of the Senior Special Assistant to Mr. President on MDGs to complete the printing of distribution of the outstanding curriculum of Primary 4 to 6, only N30 million was approved by the National Assembly.
“Unless it is corrected, this will certainly derail the implementation of the revised BEC as approved by the NCE and thus affect the attainment of the transformation agenda.”
Obioma, therefore, expressed optimism that the revised curriculum would improve the overall quality of education being offered at the basic level of education.
According to him, the revised curriculum approved by the National Council on Education in 2013 includes subject such as English, mathematics, cultural and creative arts, one Nigerian language, basic science and technology.
He said others are pre-vocational studies, religion and national values, French, business studies/entrepreneurship and Arabic, which was optional.
Obioma said to ensure uniform implementation of the revised BEC, the NERDC had developed teachers guide for each of the subject listings.
He said the teachers’ guides were intended to enhance effective delivery as well as eliminate ambiguities in the teaching of the curriculum.
“This is an improvement compared to past efforts, where teacher’s guides were not developed,” he said.
Obioma said training of teachers on the use of the guides would commence back-to-back across the country.
Senator Uche Chukwumerije, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, called for commitment in building a solid foundation for education in the country.
Chukwumerije blamed the declining standard of education on lack of political will on the part of policy makers, lack of implementation of policies, corruption, as well as inadequate funding of the sector.
The Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, reiterated government’s commitment to meet the needs of education in the country.
Wike, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Mc John Nwaobiala, said the new Basic Education Curriculum had been revised to make it less cumbersome and more user friendly.
The minister, who said the school curriculum should be regularly renewed, enriched and updated, noted that the contents would also meet global best practices.