Abuja, Nigeria: The Federal Government has dismissed widespread misinformation surrounding the newly revised national education curricula, clarifying that recent updates do not eliminate religious studies or core subjects.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) gave the clarifications in a statement by the Executive Secretary, Prof. Salisu Shehu, on Thursday in Abuja.
Shehu said these distorted, fabricated, and false statements circulating on social media were targeted to misinform, mislead and stir up emotions.
The Federal Ministry of Education has recently issued a pronouncement on the approved New Revised Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) and the Senior Secondary Education Curriculum (SSEC).
It provided the curricula framework and authentic subject listings and offerings for proper guidance.
According to NERDC, pupils in Primary 1–3 can offer a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 10 subjects, while those in Primary 4–6 can offer 10 to 12 subjects.
For Junior Secondary School, students can offer 12 to 14 subjects. At the Senior Secondary level, the range is 8 to 9 subjects, while technical schools can offer 9 to 11 subjects.
According to him, the curriculum is fundamental to the delivery of learning content, acquisition of knowledge, competencies, and values, as well as the attainment of positive outcomes and national development.
“The current curriculum reform effort at the relevant education levels is part of the National Education Sector Renewal Initiatives (NESRI), and also in line with the requirements to review educational contents at designated intervals and when exigent.
“The new revised curricula are needs-driven, evidence-based, and reflect best practices, global development, and local contexts and peculiarities.
The new revised curricula are the outcome of robust engagement with critical stakeholders, consultations, and participation at various stages.
“The revised curricula allowed significant views and factors to be addressed, and captured as essential contents, elements, and features of the curricula, among others.
“We appreciate genuine responses and objective enquiries by patriotic and forward-looking critical stakeholders and Nigerians,” he said.