British Council, Others Urged to Address Curriculum Execution Gaps

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has revealed that Nigeria has a real problem with curriculum execution gaps at institutional levels, calling on the British Council and other stakeholders to help in addressing the gaps.

The Acting Executive Secretary, NUC, Chris J Maiyaki, made the call while presenting a keynote address at the British Council Workshop on Enhancing Curriculum and Pedagogical Approaches in Nigerian Universities held in Abuja.

While appreciating the farsightedness of the British Council in organising the Workshop on Enhancing Curriculum and Pedagogical Approaches in Nigerian Universities, NUC said it is one thing to review or develop a new curriculum; it is another to deploy the curriculum effectively and efficiently in training students in their chosen disciplines.

Maiyaki explained that knowledge without implementation is an exercise in futility, saying that, ”We have a real problem with execution, knowledge without implementation is an exercise in futility. And as a corollary, training without practice is a waste of effort. We have a real problem with execution gaps at institutional levels which you should address at this workshop.”

He said the workshop would equip academic staff of Nigerian universities with the requisite knowledge and skills to design and develop as well as deploy curriculum, using innovative modern teaching strategies and technologies to enhance student learning experience in the university system.

The Executive Secretary said that today’s curriculum needs, require the incorporation of interactive technology to assist students understand concepts and learning of new skills.

Maiyaki explained that curriculum development is crucial, evolutionary and dynamic in education and in improving learning outcomes, adding that It is essential for the culture of curriculum development and review to be at pace with current global trends.

”I must emphasise that today’s curriculum needs, require the incorporation of interactive technology to assist students understand concepts and learn new skills. Institutions, government and private sector experts should strengthen existing collaboration and feedback mechanisms to incorporate best practices in curriculum development for higher education, thus, shaping a brighter and more resilient future for graduates and national economic development.

“The National Universities Commission is more than disposed to engage in collaborations that will continually reshape our understanding of the importance of curriculum development and effective implementation, in our world today,” said Maiyaki.

According to him, to mitigate some envisaged challenges that hinder the effective implementation of the curriculum such as inadequate training of academic staff, inadequate learning and teaching infrastructure, limited knowledge of technology enhanced teaching methods, among others, the Commission organised a 5-week on-site and virtual capacity building workshop held on May 16-21, and June 21-27 2023, respectively, for academic staff of Nigerian universities on the effective implementation of the CCMAS. The academics were taken through various teaching strategies employing technologies such as the CVLE (Class Virtual Learning Environment).

“The commission can confidently inform the distinguished participants here, that for the first time in the history of university systems globally, textual materials (in the form of CCMAS Book Series) and CCMAS model videos have been developed by academic experts with enhanced innovative teaching strategies to serve as a guide to academic staff on effective implementation of the developed curriculum.

“Furthermore, the commission is optimistic that the CCMAS documents which was successfully launched on 5 December, 2022 will continue to serve as a guide to Nigerian Universities in the development of the 30% curriculum for their peculiarities with regards to the minimum acceptable standards of input and process, as well as, measurable benchmark of knowledge, 21st century skills and competences expected to be acquired by an average graduate of each of the academic programmes, for self, national and global relevance,” he said.

Maiyaki, however, expressed NUC’s willingness to engage in collaborations that will continually reshape the understanding of the importance of curriculum development and effective implementation.