The National Universities Commission (NUC) emphasizes that today’s curriculum requires the incorporation of interactive technology to assist students in understanding concepts and learning new skills.
The acting Executive Secretary, Mr. Chris Maiyaki, stated this at the Going Global Partnership Workshop with the theme “Enhancing Curriculum Development and Teaching Strategies in the Nigerian University System” organized by the British Council in Abuja on Monday.
According to him, curriculum is the bedrock of education, and its development refers to a process of creating educational programs and materials that align with current standards and incorporate subjects and skills that are relevant today and for the future.
Maiyaki said, “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.
“NUC 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.”
While commending the council, he said the NUC appreciates the foresightedness of the British Council in organizing this Workshop on enhancing curriculum and pedagogical approaches in Nigerian Universities at this auspicious time in the history of the Commission.
“However, 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.
“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.
“It is the policy of the NUC to train and retrain university staff, both academic and non-academic, in the implementation of ideas and policies that are functional to the wellbeing of our institutions.
“The efforts of some of our universities in cascading these training programs in their respective domains are commendable and most compelling. With a stakeholder such as the British Council, we are encouraged to double our efforts and commitment to staff training.
At the workshop,the acting Country Director, British Council Nigeria, Chikodi Onyemerela, said this workshop was conceived to equip participants with further knowledge and skills to design and implement effective curricula and to discuss innovative teaching strategies to enhance student learning.
He said, “We have just concluded work with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria in developing School Leadership Professional Standard for our dear country.
“We look forward to the effective operationalization of the transnational education guideline which was launched in November last year to support mutual collaboration between institutions in Nigeria, their UK counterparts, and beyond.
“The Nigerian education landscape stands at a crucial juncture, where the demand for innovation in curriculum design and teaching methods has never been more pressing.
“The challenges we face are significant. However, I think that they are not insurmountable. With determination, creativity, and collaboration, we can overcome these obstacles and pave the way for a brighter future for our students.”