The Federal Government has announced plans to introduce skills acquisition and values as key components of the new curriculum for basic education before the end of October this year in furtherance of its sustained drive towards ensuring that school leavers are empowered for jobs.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who made this disclosure in Abuja on Thursday, at the 68th National Council on Education (NCE) Meeting with the theme ‘Innovation, Digital Technology and Entrepreneurship: Tools for Educational and National Development in the 21st Century’.
He explained that the new curriculum would focus on skills that would empower graduates from schools to be productive and begin to contribute to the nation’s economic development.
The minister said: “The Ministry is about rolling out a new curriculum for Basic Education and Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria from this October. This is designed to incorporate knowledge, skills and values, especially with a special focus on skills.”
According to him, the initiative is part of the Ministry’s moves on the implementation of the Education Transformation Agenda of the administration, designed to holistically overhaul the education sector, ensure quality learning, skill development, access and equity.
While pointing out that the framework and route to accomplish the ideals is captured in Out-of-School Children as ‘DOTS’ Data Repository, Mamman urged that attendees at the meeting to critically deliberate on the issues in the education sector and come up with recommendations that would reposition the nation’s educational system for improved contribution to national development.
He maintained that the discussion at this session should focus on strategies needed to ensure education in a knowledge-based economy, driven by creativity and digital excellence, stressing that Nigeria’s “future hinges on our ability to be part of innovation, digital technology and entrepreneurship which the youths are expected to be part of as key players.”
At the meeting, which featured top government functionaries and other stakeholders in the nation’s education system, a digital device was unveiled by the minister to make the discussions at the meeting and future stakeholders’ meetings seamless.
Photo Caption
Minister of Education -Prof Tahir Mamman (4th from left) – flanked by other dignitaries while unveiling a digital device during the National Council of Education Meeting held on Thursday in Abuja
