Curriculum
By Olayinka Olawale
Lagos, July 9, 2018 (NAN) The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) on Monday called for the involvement of its members in the selection of books for the schools’ curriculum in Nigeria.
The association also wants the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to involve the authors and other stakeholders in the selection and recommendation of books into school’s curriculum.
Its President, Mr Abdulahi Denja, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, while reacting to the re-introduction of History into the primary and junior secondary schools’ curriculum in September.
Denja said that the standard of some of the books recommended for study in the schools were not competitive enough.
He said that stakeholders such as ANA, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and others relevant stakeholders should be involved in the recommendation of books for practical and theory.
The ANA president said that NERDC should have organisations like ANA as a consultative body in the selection process.
He also said that currently, NERDC does not seek the inputs of relevant stakeholders as regard the curriculum, thereby recommending books that were not too rich in content.
“There should be a way in which stakeholders will be involved in the selection and recommendations of books in the curriculum.
“The only way to get the best books is for us to be part of the committee; you must involve the stakeholders, which is the only way to get good books.
“Sometimes, NERDC may not be aware of good books that are out there; but we as member of the panel, will suggest and recommend,” he said.
Denja said that the present school curriculum have all sorts of books recommended by NERDC, adding that it would have been better with the help of stakeholders.
“The council must prevent further mistakes and seek the collaboration of stakeholders to have the best history and cultural books,” he said.
Denja said it was a welcome development that History as a subject, was being introduced into the primary and junior secondary schools.
“History we did at that early level and as general studies in higher institutions is still what we know up till today.
“History is a way to compulsorily make people, whatever course they are studying, to know about the history and culture of their country,” he said. (NAN)
OOG/CHOM/GOK
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Olagoke Olatoye