The British Council has partnered with the National Universities Commission (NUC) to develop curricula in tertiary institutions.

Chikodi Onyemerela, director of programmes at the British Council, spoke at a workshop on “Enhancing Curriculum and Pedagogical Approaches in Nigerian Universities” in Abuja on Monday. He said the partnership was necessary to keep up with global trends.

He said there was a need to change from the traditional teaching and learning approach to digital literacy in solving problems.

“NUC has since introduced the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), which emphasises the cultivation of critical thinking, digital literacy, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial skills among graduates. It is imperative for our educational institutions to adapt accordingly. 

“We must acknowledge the hurdles ahead of the traditional approach to teaching and learning, which has long been entrenched in our university system and is not easily overturned.

“To change this will require a concerted effort from each of us to challenge the status quo,” he said.

Also, Chris Maiyaki, the acting executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), called for collaborative efforts to initiate continuous curriculum reform in Nigerian universities.

He emphasised the need for continuous curriculum reform in Nigerian universities to enable them to adapt to a fast-changing world.

“Continuous curriculum reform has been considered a necessary measure to assist schools in responding to a fast-changing world.

“Initiating such reforms is not without challenges, as sometimes the actualisation of the curriculum renewal is not fully realised due to implementation challenges.

“The new CCMAS is a product of sustained stakeholder interactions and engagement over the years. This involved a blend of academic experts, government (represented by NUC), professional bodies, and the private sector represented by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG),” he said.

Mr Maiyaki said these inputs, along with the curriculum of programmes obtained from some foreign and renowned universities, served as major working materials for the various panels constituted for that purpose.

“Innovative courses such as venture creation, entrepreneurship (programme specific) and innovation, among others, were incorporated into the general studies courses to enhance graduates’ employability skills,” he said.

Mr Maiyaki added that the new curriculum unbundles the Bachelor of Agriculture, Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication, and Bachelor of Architecture programmes while establishing some emerging specialisations in these fields in line with global practices.

He, however, stated that this was not a one-time process as there would be curriculum development and review to be at pace with current global trends. 

(NAN)