5th October, 2015
A cross section of teachers has urged the Federal Government to review the present secondary school curriculum as it narrows the scope of students’ knowledge.
They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the celebration of the 2015 World Teachers Day on Monday in Abuja.
Mr Kaaor Simon, First Vice Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Benue State, said that the exclusion of some former core subjects from the present curriculum was a limitation to the knowledge of students.
“We want the Ministry of Education to look inward and correct the curriculum; if not, there would be an imbalance in the country’s education system.
“Actually, the change in curriculum is narrowing the scope of knowledge of students because knowledge should be wide, that is why even in the universities, you have general studies.
“So, there is every need for students to have first hand information of every subject, even if not in-depth, they should have the basics.’’
Commenting on the World Teachers Day, Simon said it was a day meant for teachers to be celebrated both in good and bad times.
He added that though teachers were being owed salaries, their celebration won’t be hindered.
He, however, commended Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue for his efforts in paying teachers salaries even though they still had arrears which the governor had promised to pay.
In the same vein, Mrs Joy Uchidiuno, the Supervisor, Local Education Authority, Delta State, called for the restoration of Biology and History as core subjects for both science and social science students.
She emphasised the importance of History as a subject, saying that without it, students would never know what happened in the past or how their country came into existence.
“The most important one to be included is History that has been removed from the curriculum and substituted by Government; without history, children will not be able to understand what had happened in the past.
“For instance, about independence and other things about their country; the subject enables them to carry on the challenges they are going to face in future.
“Biology should be a social science subject as well as pure science because it is talking about human being; it enables one know his or her biological build-up.
“It educates the girl child on what to do when she gets married and to know certain things about their health and biological status.’’
Uchidiuno commended the government for its efforts so far in teachers development, adding that it was very necessary for teachers to be given a good place in the nation by financing and empowering them.
She said regular training would upgrade teachers and enable them to teach with new technologies.
She also commended Mr Jonathan Jemiregbe, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Delta state, for his commitment in ensuring that the state’s teachers were adequately catered for.
NAN recalls that the implementation of the new curriculum for Senior Secondary Schools developed by the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) started in 2014.
The curriculum is structured in a way that will ensure that senior secondary school graduates are well prepared for higher education and that they acquire relevant functional trade/entrepreneurship skills needed for poverty eradication, job creation and wealth generation