NUC announces date for implementation of new varsity curriculum

The National Universities Commission, says that the implementation of the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards CCMAS (CCMAS) commences in September.

The commission said the new CCMAS document would guide institutions in the design of curricula for their programmes.

It added that the COMES would bring necessary innovation into the content and delivery of their programmes towards achieving overall goals of education in the country.

It added that the COMES would bring necessary innovation into the content and delivery of their programmes towards achieving the overall goals of education and training in the country.

The commission stated that the implementation will help sharpen the future of the education sector.

Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Maiyaki, who disclosed this at a Stakeholders’ Colloquium on CCMAS in Abuja on Wednesday, said the document would reposition Nigerian universities among the best rated in Africa.

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The NUC chief said the CCMAS would make up 70 per cent of the curriculum while the universities would decide on what to include in the remaining 30 per cent.

Maiyaki said: “The role and development of the CCMAS is to ensure commitment in advancing our education and our great nation. NUC dedicated to ensuring quality and global competitiveness of Nigerian universities as well as the graduates we produce.

“The development of the CCMAS went through a painstaking process by bringing experts from our universities comprising professors, regulatory bodies, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and all stakeholders.

“The CCMAS reflect global initiative that will equip graduates with knowledge and wherewithal that will advance the development of the nation.”

In his remarks, the minister of education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, encouraged universities to make optimal use of the 30 per cent university senate’s input.

He advised universities to ensure that learning outcomes, skills were acquired, irrespective of the core discipline.

“This is through using a curriculum and applying minimum standards that would guarantee we teach our students in such a way and manner that they would be employable.

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Mamman commended universities who had concluded work on the 30 per cent component and submitted the same for a review.

He urged those who have not concluded work on their 30 per cent to endeavour to do so in the shortest possible time as the next academic session rolls in.

The minister e pledged the commitment of the Federal Government in ensuring that the education system remained nationally relevant and globally competitive.

A former vice-hancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Michael Faborode said the idea of the CCMAS was to promote diversification and differentiation in the system.

This, he said, was to provide proper conceptual administrative guidelines and a harmonised legal framework for higher education.

He said this was the way to go so that universities could be globally relevant and competitive and as well provide the educational needs to the students so they could be employable after graduation.

The CCMAS was developed in 2018 following the review of the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) –the curriculum guide for Nigerian universities, which had been in use since 2007.