₦airaland Forum

[center]CHALLENGES TO SUCCESSFUL TAKE-OFF AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVISED BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM
(By: Oshymkelly Enyi)[/center]

On Thursday, October 10, 2024, the 68th National Council on Education (NCE) approved a new curriculum for implementation in basic education institutions (primary and junior secondary schools) across the country.
The former Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, had, during a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja, said that the new curriculum would take effect from January 2025.

The curriculum, as developed by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), has 15 trades or skills subjects that schoolchildren from Basic three to Junior Secondary three would be taught. Each student would mandatorily graduate with one or two skills.

The newly introduced subjects fell under the vocational and entrepreneurship studies framework, designed to expose pupils to various trades across multiple sectors. The basis for the curriculum is the National Skills Framework.

The 15 new trades or skills subjects in the revised curriculum include Basic Digital Literacy, comprising Information Technology (IT), Robotics, and others; Building and Construction that comprises subjects like Plumbing, Tiling, Floor Works, and POP Installation, while Hospitality and Leisure subjects include Events Decoration and Management, Bakery and Confectionery, Hair Styling, Make-up, and Interior Design. Others are Services consisting of the subjects: GSM Repairs, Satellite/TV Antenna/CCTV/Intercom Installation and Maintenance, Solar Installation and Maintenance and Garment Making. Agriculture and Processing consists of Crop Production, Bee-keeping, Horticulture Production, Sheep and Goat Farming, Poultry, and Rabbit Farming.

The need that drives the desire for the revised curriculum is a content that addresses the skills gap in the country with emphasis on critical thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The NERDC made effort to align the curriculum with the needs of the rapidly evolving society of today.

Much as the new/revised curriculum is a welcome development, what with its potential benefits, implementing a new school curriculum can be a complex and challenging process. The immediate past education minister had, while speaking on implementation, acknowledged thus, “We do not expect comprehensive, full implementation from January because, when you roll out something new, there’s a lot of preparation that has to take place by the schools, acquiring new things, equipment, and small things that they will need.” He had identified the need for the preparation of classrooms and teachers’ development, as well as teachers’ support and development for them to be able to implement the curriculum.
The challenges could be more daunting in reality than was glossed over by the former minister. It is imperative that schools and other stakeholders in the system take cognizance of the enormity of the challenges and device appropriate measures to surmount them, to avoid the possible slip by schools into delivery of just the theoretical components of the subjects, thereby defeating the original aim.

These challenges include:
Technical Challenges: logistical and operational difficulties, such as inadequate resources, insufficient training, and heavy workloads.

Adaptive Challenges, which involve changes to the school culture, teacher mindsets, and student expectations. For example, teachers may struggle to understand and implement the new curriculum, or students may resist changes to the teaching-learning approaches.
Lack of Resources: Insufficient funding, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to technology can hinder the effective implementation of the new curriculum.

Inadequate Training: Teachers may not receive sufficient training or support to effectively implement the new curriculum, leading to confusion and resistance.

Assessment and Evaluation: Developing and implementing effective assessment and evaluation strategies can be a challenge, especially as the new curriculum would require new assessment method.

Balancing Theory and Practice: Integrating skills training into academic activities requires a balance between theoretical knowledge and practical skills, which can be difficult to achieve.

It therefore behoves the education policymakers and school managers to evaluate these challenges, vis-a-vis the realities on ground, to better plan and support the implementation of the new Basic school curriculum. This way, there would be a prospect of desirable outcomes.

Is it available? How can one access it digitally?

My friend made her house, I suggested floor tiling services, they work a lot. You can also try it.