Prof. Gidado Tahir, the Chairman, Governing Board of National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE), has said that adaptation of reviewed curriculum guides will address youth’s restiveness and criminality in the country.
Tahir said this in his address at a five-day workshop organised by the NCNE and supported by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC),on Monday, in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the workshop is: “Review and Adaptation of the Curriculum Guides for the Education of Pastoralists, Migrants Fisher-Folk and Farmers.
“Today, we are all living witnesses to the myriads of challenges facing our country, arising from the collapse of our community values and the associated youth restiveness.
“I have no doubt that the outcome of this workshop will impact positively on the implementation of Nomadic Education Programme (NEP).
“It is indeed heartwarming to see the focus of the Commission on curriculum review and adaptation, given the worrisome and dwindling moral position of our youths in the country.
“The review and adaptation will go a long way to address youth restiveness and criminality.
“Thus, the intervention at this critical moment of our historical development as a nation is not only timely but equally commendable,” Tahir said.
Speaking, the Executive Secretary of NCNE, Prof. Bashir Usman, said that the curriculum provided a cardinal link between education delivery, and the set national goals and objectives.
Usman noted that there was a sharp decline in the understanding of the collective sense of history, moral values, social cohesion, and rich cultural heritage as a people.
“This is particularly worst among the youthful population in the country, who have relapsed into all manners of social vices ranging from conflicts, insurgency, armed robbery, kidnapping, drug abuse and rape.
“Our country is, therefore, in dire need of a solution to stem the rising spade of this menace that is the roots of our current national security challenges, with all its attendant consequences.
“It is against this backdrop that the National Council of Education, through the Federal Ministry of Education, directed for the reintroduction of History, National Values, Islamic and Christian Religious studies,” Usman said.
He appreciated the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu and President Muhammadu Buhari, for their supports.
Similarly, Prof. Abba Haladu, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC), said the education of children of Nomadic Pastoralists, Migrants Fisher-Folk and Farmers should be a priority.
According to him, this is in view of the large number of these clients and the potential benefits that the country would drive from educating them.
“In this regard, the workshop is not only relevant but also timely because of the urgent need to create a more standardised reading matter for the children.
“Especially at this time when electronic media is threatening to undermine the traditional reading culture among children, including the potential to erode or undermine our national cultural, religious and moral values,” Haladu said.
However, Dr Rose Nwaji, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the NCNE, said the workshop was expected to examine and adapt the reviewed national curricular in four subjects.
“They include Christian Religious Studies, Islamic Religious Studies, History and National Values, to the Socio-cultural and learning needs of nomads.
“Another expectation is to identify and infuse curriculum contents which are relevant to the learning needs of the Pastoralists and migrant Fisher/farmers, at appropriate points.
“Also, to suggest appropriate teaching and learning activities and materials that will foster the type of education that stresses the link between the nomadic lives and their environment.
“And among others, the workshop is expected to produce the hard copy and soft copies of the adapted curriculum guide,” Nwaji said.
NAN reports that experts and resource persons were drawn from tertiary institutions across the country. (NAN)