sunday n. orji

The New 9-Year Basic Education Curriculum

NIGERIAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND

DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (NERDC)

N .E .R. D . C

NIG

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I AN E

DUCATI ONA

L RESEA

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& D

EVELO

PMEN T CO

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By

Sunday N. Orji Senior Research Officer – NERDC Sheda, Abuja

[email protected]; 08069259978

Presented at a Sensitization & Advocacy Workshop for Teachers in Taraba

State held on the 23rd – 24th August, 2012.

Antecedence

Education is regarded as the vehicle for sustainable socio-economic

development and advancement . Thus, nations are reforming and

strengthening their educational system to meet their aspirations as well as

International Development Goals (IDGs).

In Nigeria, the National Council on Education (NCE) in 2005 mandated

NERDC to produce a viable curriculum to meet national and international

goals (including NEEDS, EFA & MDGs).

o NEEDS = National Economic Development and Empowerment strategy.

It encompasses

Value re-orientation

Poverty eradication

Job creation and wealth generation

Using education to empower the people

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Antecedence cont…

o MDGs = Millennium Development Goals Internationally agreed framework of 8 goals and 18 targets to stimulate

global development

Launched in September 2000; benchmark period 1990 to 2015

189 signatory countries (including Nigeria) are expected to create

effective implementation strategies and structures for the MDGs

Goal 1: Eradication of Extreme Hunger and Poverty

Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education

Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women, and

Goal 4:Reduce Child Mortality

Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health

Goal 6: Combat HlV/AlDS, malaria and other diseases

Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability

Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

The education sector is concerned with MDGs 2, 3 & 6

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Antecedence cont…

Based on NCE directives, NERDC successfully re-structuring and re-

alignment of the Primary and Secondary Education Curriculum for the

achievement of the national and global development goals.

One of the products of the restructuring is the Universal Basic

Education (UBE)

The New BEC has not only updated the old content standards, but

also introduced new subject matter and associated skill

requirements for pedagogy.

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Goals of the 9-year Basic Education Programme

Developing in the entire citizenry a strong consciousness for

education and a strong committed to its vigorous promotion.

Providing free and compulsory, universal basic education for every

Nigerian child of school-going age.

Reducing drastically the incidence of early leaving from the formal

school system.

Catering for the learning needs of young persons who, for one reason

or another, have had to interrupt their schooling through appropriate

forms of complementary approaches to the provision and promotion of

basic education.

Ensuring the acquisition of appropriate levels of literacy, numeracy,

manipulative, communicative and life-skills as well as the ethical,

moral and civic values for laying a solid foundation for lifelong

learning. 5

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Philosophy of the BEC

The philosophy of the curriculum is that every learner who has

gone through 9-years of basic education should have acquired

appropriate levels of literacy, numeracy, manipulative and life

skills; as well as the ethical, moral, and civic values needed for

laying a solid foundation for life long – learning as a basic for

scientific and reflective thinking.

Basic Education Curriculum Structure

The 9-year basic education curriculum is structured in three levels:

1. Lower Basic Education (Primary 1-3)

2. Middle Basic Education (Primary 4-6)

3. Upper Basic Education (JSS1-3)

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Lower basic education curriculum structure

Basic Education

Curriculum Levels

Core Compulsory Subjects Elective Subjects

Lower Basic

Education

Curriculum

(Primary 1- 3)

1. English Studies

2. One Major Nigeria Language

(Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba)

3. Mathematics

4. Basic Science & Technology

5. Social Studies

6. Civic Education

7. Cultural & Creative Arts

(CCA)

8. Christian Religion

Studies/Islamic Studies

9. Physical & Health Education

(PHE)

10. Computer Studies/ICT

1. Agriculture

2. Home Economics

3. Arabic Language

NOTE:

Must offer 1 elective,

but not more than 2.

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Middle basic education curriculum structure

Basic Education

Curriculum Level


Middle Basic Education

Curriculum

(Primary 4-6)

1. English Studies

2. One Major


3. Mathematics

4. Basic Science &

Technology

5. Social Studies

6. Civic Education


(CCA)

8. Christian Religious


9. Physical & Health

Education (PHE)

10. French Language


1. Agricultural

2. Home Economics

3. Arabic Language

NOTE:


but not more than 2

1

0

Upper basic curriculum structure

Basic Education

Curriculum Level


Upper Basic

Education Curriculum

(JSS1 -3)

1. English Studies

2. One Major Nigeria Language


3. Mathematics

4. Basic Science

5. Social Studies

6. Civic Education

7. Cultural & Creative Arts (CCA)

8. Christian Religion


9. Physical & Health Education

(PHE)

10. French Language

11. Basic Technology


1. Agriculture

2. Home Economics

3. Arabic Languages

4. Business Studies

NOTE:


but not more than 3

1

1

Ongoing review of BEC Subjects offer

= 10 subjects curriculum structure

In view of the complaints of curriculum overload by the end users,

the Federal Government ordered comprehensive review of the BEC.

There was the need to reduce the subject overload without losing

quality and also to incorporate, if there are any emerging issue that

has come onboard in the last 2 or 3 years

Emerging issues emphasized:

Reading

Security awareness

Religion and National values

Entrepreneurship and preparation for vocational training

The review process is being completed; inauguration intended before

the 2013 academic session

1

2

Ongoing review of BEC Subjects offer = 10 subjects

curriculum structure

New Subject Listing Components

1. English

2. Mathematics


4. Nigerian Languages 1. Hausa 2. Ibo 3. Yoruba

5. Basic Science & Technology Basic Science, Basic

Technology, P.H.E. &

Computer/ICT

6. Religion & National Values C.R.S., Islamic Studies, Social

Studies, Civic Education &

Security Awareness

7. Pre-vocational studies Agriculture; Home

Economics; Entrepreneurship

8. French

9. Arabic

10. Business Studies

The Basic Features of the New 9-Year BEC

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The subjects are divided into core compulsory and elective subjects

Electives include Arabic, Agriculture, Home Economics and Business

Studies (Business Studies as elective is introduced in JS1)

Subjects and contents flow systematically from primary 1 to JSS 3, thus

form building blocks for the learning of future contents.

Contents organization are thematic and spiral

There is systematic connection between primary and junior secondary

school contents

Infusion of emerging issues from NEEDs, National Values (ethics and

morals ), Peace Studies and Entrepreneurial skills in the various contents

French is introduced as a core subject from primary 4

Technology is included in the primary school curriculum

Basic Science and Basic Technology become distinct/separate subjects

from JS1

Why change from old to new?

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There were limitations and gaps in the old curricula

There was a disconnect in some subjects between Primary and

JSS curricula:

Primary science and integrated science

Introduction technology

The existing primary and JSS curriculum could not achieve

acquisition of, functional literacy and numeracy, strategic

communication skills, and entrepreneurial skill

No support for reducing poverty, creating jobs and wealth for

grandaunts

There was subject overloading

The old primary and JSS curricula was not in line with the 9-

continous schooling policy

Implementation Strategies

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As a deliberate policy, the curriculum was approved to commence in

September, 2008 in schools across the federation at Primary 1 and JSS 1

classes.

By implication, as students progress to the upper classes the old

curriculum is gradually and systematically phased out.

The old curriculum will be phased out gradually over a period of 6

years and 3 years (i.e. 2013 and 2011) for the primary and JSS

components respectively.

The gradually phase out is to allow for:

Adequate sensitization and Advocacy

Mobilization of resources

Staffing; teacher training and retraining

Provision of infrastructures

Textbook development and review

Monitoring of implementation, curriculum feedback and review

Implementation Strategy …

However excellent the new curricula, effective implementation is

hinged upon collaboration and commitment of all critical

stakeholders.

Thus, to ensure effective implementation of BEC, critical

stakeholders should be involved in:

Bulk purchase/distribution of the subject-based curricula

Distribution of the curricula to (6) Zonal Offices for easy access

Bulk sales/distribution to SMoE

Individual state collaboration with the NERDC in organizing

sensitization/training workshop for teachers

Annual state level Advocacy and sensitization of on the

curriculum

Development and printing of Teacher’s Guide

Development, printing and distribution of NERDC manual for

development and utilization of instructional resources 16

Implementation Strategy … Head Teachers/Teachers

oThe teacher is expected to play a critical role in the effective

implementation of the new BEC at the classroom level!

o Needs be abreast with the structure, content and philosophy of the BEC

o Critical roles??

School level sensitization and advocacy on the curricula

Procurement of adequate no. the new curricula & Teacher Handbooks

4A questions [Aware? Available? Access? Adequacy?]

Guiding students on choice of subjects

Encourage & supervise the use of the curriculum by teachers

Capacity building for teachers relevant to the new BEC

Planning lessons, designing activities, continuous assessment, etc.

Encourage writing & review of textbooks

Writing of test items; development of test banks

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Implementation strategies … Assessment Policy

Pupils who successfully complete primary 6 will proceed to JSS1

without a selective (placement) examination

Abolition of terminal examination for primary 6 pupils

Scrapping of the central common entrance (placement) examination for

primary 6 pupils into JSS1

Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) at the end of the 9-

year basic education schooling in June 2010 to replace the Junior

Secondary Certificate Examination

Introduction of selective (placement) examination for graduating JSS

students who are potentially bound for senior secondary (post basic)

education

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Group assignment???

Briefly demonstrate how to use the curriculum in your subject area for the

following teaching activities:

1. Preparing scheme of work

2. Writing lesson note

3. Selecting appropriate instructional materials

4. Choosing relevant textbook

5. Designing engaging learning activities

6. Assessing students (test item generation and administration; essay-

objective test choice, etc.)

7. Planning, research and development project

8. Monitoring of curriculum implementation at school level

9. Giving curricula feedback (e.g. perceived difficult concepts;

discovered best practices; etc.)

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Conclusion

The success of our education and subsequent achievement of

the national and global development goals is hinged upon the

effective implementation of the curriculum.

Thus, all stakeholders must of necessity be actively committed

for the success of the new BEC!

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Thank you for listening!

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sunday n. orji

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