2022 International Day of Education - Changing Course, Transforming Education: A Call for a Transformed Curricula

In commemoration of the fourth International Day of Education which is celebrated every 24th January, Saving Hand Development Initiative (SHADE-IN) calls for "a transformation of the Nigerian Basic and Secondary schools curricula". This is in line with the theme of this year, 2022:  “Changing Course, Transforming Education”.

A close look at the national schools curricula reveals an improvement in the subjects listed. However, these are more on paper than they are in reality. We must transit from paper to work, otherwise, it will only be paperwork.

SHADE-IN's visit to a school in Rivers State.

The Nigerian public school systems have been under serious degeneration and as a matter of urgency, both the Federal and State ministries of education have to rise up to their responsibilities in providing the enabling environment and safe spaces for learning for our children, especially the girl child (pupil and student).

If we would have less out of school children or children deprived of access to education, then we must build a strong educational system, as this will also fight poverty.

According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), "Today, 258 million children and youth still do not attend school; 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math; less than 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school and some four million children and youth refugees are out of school."

When the learning environment is not conducive for learning or when the necessary facilities required to aid learning are not available, children (pupils and students) can develop apathy towards schooling.

In this part of the world, we hear statements by young people such as "School Na Scam," which means that school is not real, cannot help one make a good living, hence it is not needed. Infact a musician sang a song about the subject matter, "School Na Scam."

Talking about transforming the curricula, one classic example is that, in the curriculum as at today, you will find 'Entrepreneurship' as one of the subjects listed among the Upper Basic prevocational subjects, but there is no single content on this in the curriculum. And we know how important this skill is especially in this present dispensation. With Entrepreneurship, young persons can fight poverty.

SHADE-IN has been carrying out research in the educational sector in Nigeria not for the purpose of getting grants but for the purpose of knowing areas of intervention in this sector. We have had engagements with students, teachers and of course schools and stakeholders in more than one state of the federation. Our findings have been saddening. Another sad part is that sometimes, solutions proferred even with available funding are either jettisoned or hijacked by the government and at the end of the day, they cannot drive it for long and we are back to the status quo.

It is a pity that some governments have not recognised the roles of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). They should realise that they are not there to fight government but to complement government's efforts, collaborate for development. Government should learn to incorporate CSOs into their programming. If they want their programmes to be successful and sustainable, they should work with CSOs from the baseline to the monitoring and evaluation stages. They should not only bring them in when they feel like. This way, they can learn from genuine and competent ones to improve their programming.

On the flip side, CSOs are now better employing the tool of advocacy to get Government to terms with the change they desire to see. SHADE-IN has been part of such advocacy moves alone and in collaboration with other CSOs and intends to do more. Donors now realise how important advocacy is and are now funding NGOs to carry out such. This is commendable. But Government, especially policy makers should cooperate to make it a success by not demanding for "envelops" in the name of lobbying. What should guide their decisions is understanding what benefit the advocacy issue will have on the citizenry, rather than being self-centred and money centric.

Quality education is every child's right. Not providing the right environment for them to learn, including the girl child, is depriving them of their fundamental rights.

It is time to change course and transform education.

To see our other articles on education, you may start with this:👉https://shade-in.blogspot.com/2019/08/un-2019-international-youth-day-shade.html?m=1

Previous International Day of Education article:
https://shade-in.blogspot.com/2021/01/prioritise.html?m=1

To learn more about the international day of education, click here: https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/educationday

Bliss Ojeruse,
Executive Director (Programmes)
Saving Hand Development Initiative (SHADE-IN)

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