Expert says new UBE curriculum will correct defects in former

HEAD of Department, Early Childhood Education, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Mr. Simeon Fowowe, says the new Universal Basic Education Curriculum will correct the defect in the former.
It will be recalled that the new curriculum was introduced in October 2014 to accommodate new subjects and phase out the old one.
The new curriculum includes subjects like Entrepreneurial Skill, Religious and National Values, Cultural and Creative Arts among others.
Fowowe said that the Universal Basic Education (UBE) and post UBE curriculum would promote re-orientation, critical thinking, value orientation, entrepreneurial skills and wealth creation.
The educationist said that the curriculum which was launched to correct the former was being implemented in basics one and two and Junior Secondary School (JSS) one and two.
“The implication is that the new set of basics one and two and JSS one and two has begun to use the new UBE curriculum since October 2014.
“While the old curriculum will gradually phase out with the preceding sets, it will completely be phased out in 2020 for primary and 2016 for junior secondary,” he said.
Fowowe said that every child had the opportunity to grow up in a community that appreciates children and provides condition for a safe and secured environment that respects diversity.
“It is because children are both the present and future of every nation.
“They therefore need a functional curriculum that makes them compete favourably with their peers globally in scientific and technological innovation,” he said.
According to him, more than ever before, students at all levels need extensive and contemporary knowledge of the global curriculum, happenings, skills and disposition to engage with people from many cultures.
“The children will need these to be responsible global citizens and effective participants in the global market place of the 21st century,” he said.
Fowowe, also the Chairman, Association of Childhood Education Practitioners, expressed sadness that only few teachers were well prepared to educate students for the new global context contained in the new curricula.
The educationist, however, recommended that the best way to teach the trades/skills is to employ the “artisan” to handle the practical aspect of the curriculum.
“The educated teacher handles the theory and that is the only way the set objectives can be achieved.
“Employ the service of the artisan to come at least twice in a week to teach the students.
“Even if the artisan cannot speak `English’, let there be an interpreter to do justice to the translation. The purpose is to understand the basic skills,” he said.
He said that students taught under the prescription — artisan + trained teacher — would create jobs and wealth after leaving secondary school.
The lecturer advised the government that school heads, administrators, teachers and, especially school counsellors had the onerous task in the implementation process and should be encouraged to key into the new trend.
Mrs. Joy Ojeah, Director of Curriculum, Lagos State Ministry of Education, had told NAN that the curriculum was compatible with the values and customs of the country.
According to her, the curriculum was designed to meet the needs of every child putting in mind their culture, background and religion