Experts call for curriculum that represents Nigerian society

Experts in the education sector have called for the creation of a Nigerian school curriculum that represents the society and would help in achieving growth and development.

They made the call during a “Save education in Nigeria dialogue organised by Concerned Parents and Educators (CPE) at Vantage Point Event Centre, in Ikeja, Lagos state which was attended by stakeholders and school administrators.

Chief Executive Officer of Brookehouse Educational Consults, Dr. Ifueko Thomas stated that schools’ curriculum determine the dynamism of a society.

Ifueko said for us to improve the society, we need to create a curriculum that it needs; a curriculum that has the future plan of Nigeria rather than Britain’s or Australia’s.

“We say we are following the British curriculum, are we in Britain, Is British society and ours the same? We need to be intentional in our actions if we want to improve the country,” she declared.

She advised the government to get feedback from different professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and architects before developing a curriculum.

Speaking on the importance of education, former deputy governor of Lagos state, Sarah Sosan stated that education reduces stress, promotes healthy living, the longevity of life and respect for lives and properties.

Sosan noted that hindrance to good education results from poor parenting, misuse of technology, sexual abuse and unprofessional teachers.

She urged parents to support teachers psychologically rather than bully them for disciplining students because they hold the future of upcoming generation, while also calling for better infrastructure to aid learning.

On her part, Founder of centre for sex education and family life, Praise Fowowe advised parents to seek assistance rather than watch their children perform poorly academically.

Fowowe also warned parents against disagreements and fights that could affect a child psychologically as it would hamper effective learning.

“Parents should not judge a child based on school performance only, as school grades alone don’t show the totality of a child’s intelligence.

“They need to understand that there are multiple intelligences which are not limited to academics alone,” she stated.
She urged schools to create programmes for parents that would initiate better parenting.

Speaking on changing the attitude of young Nigerians towards organised knowledge as against immediate pecuniary gains, the chief executive of Achievers consortium international, Johnson Abbaly said there is need to change the idea of reducing poverty and focus on wealth creation for everyone.

Abbaly explained that reducing poverty has caused everyone to be self-centred and focused on the present rather than the future.

He called for practical learning in schools that matches the model of Nigerian society and condemned the inferiority complex created by teachers while comparing a student’s performance with others.