‘Schools should offer History’

In the past, both primary and secondary school students study History in schools because it opens opportunities to develop a comprehensive understanding of the world, and of the many cultures and ways of life different from their own, as well as provide important factors in the rise and fall of empires. It provides students with […]

In the past, both primary and secondary school students study History in schools because it opens opportunities to develop a comprehensive understanding of the world, and of the many cultures and ways of life different from their own, as well as provide important factors in the rise and fall of empires.
It provides students with information about the past which shapes the way they view the present, and therefore dictates what answers they offer for existing problems.
The knowledge of History is said to be the precondition for political intelligence thus, promoting good political culture.
There are also a number of students who see History content as boring, citing that the information is too far removed from their experience, too detailed, or too repetitious. Others don’t like the way it’s taught.
Students, particularly, take delight in the study of History of places, personalities, events. Some of the topics enjoyed by students in the past were the Borno Empire, Sokoto Caliphate, Itsekiri Kingdom, Mungo Park, Benin Kingdom and the British Empire.
However, the story may not be the same for the next generation of secondary school students because History is no longer part of the subjects to be taught in Nigerian secondary schools.
The federal government recently listened to calls by stakeholders for the review of school curriculum because it was believed to be outdated and has formed part of the problem in the education sector.
The curriculum, which was reviewed in 2014 and took effect from last year, was done to foster entrepreneurship and civic education.
Details obtained from Nigerian Educational Research and Developmental Council (NERDC) shows that the reviewed education curriculum no longer has History in the junior and senior secondary schools as a subject but emphasis are now on entrepreneurial skills, science and civic education.
Some historians who spoke to Daily Trust said the subtraction of History from the school curriculum portends danger for the country and advocated for a reversal of the policy.
Professor Bawuro Bakindo of the Department of History and Diplomatic studies, University of Abuja, said the implication of students not studying History is that Nigeria would become a nation without history.
Bakindo said it means, “We don’t know where we are coming, where we are now and where we are going. In the days when people were taught History, they were taught who they were from the primary schools and their local history.”
He said History is actually taken out of the primary and secondary schools curriculum and that “now we are actually breeding people who do not know their own history, and history is something that covers everything, there is no subject without history.”
Principal of Baptist High School Sokoto, Irodia Lucky, who holds a B.A and M.A in History, International and Diplomatic Studies, said the importance of History as a subject in schools for any society cannot be over emphasized.
Lucky said its removal from school curriculum may lead to the downfall of any society.
He said some of the demerits to students included poor knowledge of a society, lack of sense of identity, which causes lack of patriotism.
He also said there may be gradual fading away of cultural heritage, western cultural imperialism, lack of inspiration from past heroes and founding fathers and poor citizenship due to lack of citizenship education which History offers.
“Knowledge of History promotes good leadership style and students of history are would-be administrators par excellence, who will avoid repeating past mistakes,” he said, adding “the present and future generations will find it difficult to forgive our stakeholders for removing History as a subject in schools when they eventually realized the grave and abysmal consequences of the action. History as a subject has no alternative.”
He however urged the government to, as a matter of urgency, make History compulsory in primary and secondary schools. It should be part of general studies in tertiary institutions.
“It is only when people in a country know where they are coming from that they can tell where they are likely going to. The study of History should be strongly encouraged by the government. In fact, democracy cannot thrive effectively without good knowledge of history in both the leaders and the led.”
A student in a public secondary school in Nasarawa State, Rotji Bulus, said History is very important as it connects students with past and gives them a view of what their ancestors and past leaders did.
Bulus said, “I learnt how wars were fought and won and how Nigeria came to be. So, it is very important that government reconsiders the decision so that the present generation of students will not be cut off from the past.”
A proprietor of a private school in Maiduguri, Michael Sule, said history is related to economic development
“History is a gateway to making the future better, so the study of History in schools is not just to know about the past but to prepare for the future,” he said.
Sule said government should ensure that History is taught in schools.
Daily Trust however gathered that the previous government of President Goodluck Jonathan had instructed that the national curriculum be redesigned for History to regain its place.
Jonathan had said an archive where historical artifacts should be kept be put up in the presidency to display whatever a president brings back from a trip as an aspect of History.
Meanwhile, a director at the Ministry of Education who pleaded anonymity said the ministry is considering a request before it, for History to be brought back to the school curriculum.
The director said the NERDC is working to redesign the curriculum for history to be restored in schools.
“I believe the development by NERDC will commence as soon as 2016 budget is released,” she said.