British Council, NUC partner on development of varity curriculum

The British Council has said it is partnering with the National Universities Commission (NUC) on the development of curriculum in tertiary institutions. The Director of Programmes, British Council, Mr Chikodi Onyemerela, disclosed this at a workshop on Enhancing Curriculum and Pedagogical Approaches in Nigerian Universities in Abuja on Monday. He said the partnership was necessary […]

The British Council has said it is partnering with the National Universities Commission (NUC) on the development of curriculum in tertiary institutions.

The Director of Programmes, British Council, Mr Chikodi Onyemerela, disclosed this at a workshop on Enhancing Curriculum and Pedagogical Approaches in Nigerian Universities in Abuja on Monday.

He said the partnership was necessary for Nigeria to be in tune with global trends.

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He said there was a need to change from the traditional approach of teaching and learning to digital literacy in solving problems.

While noting that NUC has since introduced the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), which emphasised the cultivation of critical thinking, digital literacy, problem solving and enterpreneurial skill among graduates, he said it is imperative for educational institutions to adopt accordingly.

“We must acknowledge the hurdles that lies ahead the traditional approach to teaching and learning which has long been entrenched in our university system and are not easily overturn,” he said.

He said to change this will require a concerted efforts from each of them to challenge the status quo.

Speaking, the Acting Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, emphasised the need for continuous curriculum reform in Nigerian universities to enable them adapt in a fast-changing world.

He said that initiating such reforms usually come with challenges and sometimes, the actualisation of the curriculum renewal was not fully realised due to the challenges of implementation.

Maiyaki said: “Continuous curriculum reform has been considered a necessary measure to assist schools respond to a fast-changing world.”

“Initiating such reforms is not without challenges as, sometimes, the actualisation of the curriculum renewal is not fully realised due to the challenges of implementation.”

He noted that the workshop is coming on the heels of the implementation of the recently-developed Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) in line with the Commission’s enabling laws.

“The new CCMAS is a product of sustained stakeholder interactions and engagement over the years. This involved a blend of academic experts, government (represented by NUC), professional bodies, and the private sector represented by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group(NESG).

Maiyaki said these inputs, along with the curriculum of programmes obtained from some foreign and renowned universities, served as major working materials for the various panels constituted for that purpose.

“Innovative courses such as Venture Creation, Entrepreneurship (programme Specific) and innovation, among others were incorporated into the General studies Courses to enhance the employability skills of graduates”, he said.