An African primary curriculum survey. Country profile: Nigeria

Initial report on curriculum development of primary school curriculum in Nigeria - a vast country with different languages and uneven educational opportunities. Responsibility for provision and content of primary education is shared between the federal and 19 state governments. Traditional and religious education combined with historical factors influence curriculum and latterly increased federal finance has resulted in greater federal influence. The Nigerian Educational Research Council coordinates overall curriculum development. Problems involve examinations for secondary education, textbook shortage, untrained teachers, disparity in enrolment rates and retention, all of which assume particular importance because of the introduction of universal primary education in the 1975-80 Development Plan. At the state level action includes machinery for locally based curriculum development, curriculum study centres, university involvement, distribution of instructional materials, expanded teacher education, evaluation trials of new syllabuses of which the Primary Education Improvement Project originally funded by Unicef is particularly important. Ideas that can be generalized elsewhere: integration of national and local curriculum development, emphasis on relevant content, starting an evaluation centre, introducing mobile inservice teacher education trainers. Implications of primary universal education need further study. Appendices include guidelines for a purchase of classroom materials.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hawes, H.W.R., Aarons, A.
Format: book biblioteca
Language:eng
Published: Department of Education in Developing Countries
Subjects:Curriculum development, Curriculum study centres, Educational opportunities, Enrolment, Evaluation, Examinations, Inservice teacher education, Primary education, Primary school curriculum, Retention, Secondary education, Teacher education, Teaching materials, Universal education,
Online Access:https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000165406
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Summary:Initial report on curriculum development of primary school curriculum in Nigeria - a vast country with different languages and uneven educational opportunities. Responsibility for provision and content of primary education is shared between the federal and 19 state governments. Traditional and religious education combined with historical factors influence curriculum and latterly increased federal finance has resulted in greater federal influence. The Nigerian Educational Research Council coordinates overall curriculum development. Problems involve examinations for secondary education, textbook shortage, untrained teachers, disparity in enrolment rates and retention, all of which assume particular importance because of the introduction of universal primary education in the 1975-80 Development Plan. At the state level action includes machinery for locally based curriculum development, curriculum study centres, university involvement, distribution of instructional materials, expanded teacher education, evaluation trials of new syllabuses of which the Primary Education Improvement Project originally funded by Unicef is particularly important. Ideas that can be generalized elsewhere: integration of national and local curriculum development, emphasis on relevant content, starting an evaluation centre, introducing mobile inservice teacher education trainers. Implications of primary universal education need further study. Appendices include guidelines for a purchase of classroom materials.