With the Federal Government set to integrate a new curriculum for Basic and Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria aimed to equip Nigerian children with the technological skills they need for this 21st Century, what then can this new curriculum do for Nigerians? How can this new curriculum help bridge the gap, bringing about productivity in Nigeria’s education system?
According to Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, the revised curriculum is designed to integrate knowledge, skills and values with strong emphasis on technical skill acquisition; preparing students to contribute effectively to the economy and lead to better productivity. The Federal Government has recognised the need for global shift to digital and is committed to harnessing the technology in order to upgrade its operations in the country and aid productivity.
During the ministerial section of the 68th National Council on Education (NCE) held on Thursday, October 10, in Abuja with the theme “Innovation, Digital Technology and Entrepreneurship: Tools for Education and National Development in the 21st Century,” Professor Tahir Mamman said the government has review of 15 trades and entrepreneurship subject curricula for the senior secondary education level. With the high demand of technology in almost every sector of the industry, there is a need for the infusion of technical skills in our education system.
In the education sector, technology can be used to revitalize the system of teaching in Nigeria, making learning easier and faster. Nigerian schools, especially public schools, are known to be lacking in various areas including unqualified teachers, lack of good facilities and learning materials for the pupils. The integration of technology in education will bring about a tremendous improvement, in the sense that the teachers can have access to online resources that will aid their lesson planning, teaching methods and and students assessments.
The teachers can be able to navigate through complex topics, learning practical ways to teach the students to improve their understanding. The students too can learn personalised learning experience bringing about critical thinking, improved understanding and retention. With technology implemented at the inception of basic education, Nigerian citizens will be better equipped to thrive in this digital age, innovations, entrepreneurship, economic growth and positioning Nigeria for global competitiveness.
As known, the rate of illiteracy in Nigeria remains a significant challenge with approximately 60 million Nigerians lacking basic literacy skills. This staggering figure underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions to address the education gap. There is a decline in digital literacy skills; many employees lack the digital expertise to effectively perform their duties. This is therefore hindering productivity and innovation, but this can be corrected with the incorpration of digital technology in the basic education level.
