Education Before and Now Nigerian Perspective

8/2/2019 Education Before and Now Nigerian Perspective

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EDUCATION BEFORE AND NOW NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVE

Activity 1.

The curriculum that was prevalent in Nigeria in 1980s was more centred around

quality teaching and there was far less students involvement in the learning process,

the foundation from the primary Education was centred around arithmetic, social

studies, English, French(which were the two major language in the country) and thenphysical education, science and arts, this is similar to what we teach today as which

emphasises numeracy, literacy and ICT as the background for all other learning

objectives. The present curriculum is activity based whereas in our time it was more

on reading and writing with little or no activities to give more practical approach to

the learning process.

The secondary education was focused on subjects like mathematics, English

Language, French, Geography, Agricultural Science (The country was highly

dependent on agriculture hence this subject was very important in the school

curriculum and every student have to cultivate a piece of land allocated within the

school premises as most schools operated school farms, other secondary subjects werehistory, economics, technical drawing, woodworks, and physical Education.

There was no use of ICT then and hence all subject deliveries were through the black

board, there were no interactive board or board pens as we have today, teachers wrote

using a white chalk. This makes delivery slower.

The curriculum made room for 6years of primary education, 5 years of secondary

education and 5years of university education, there were possibility for direct entry to

4years university program after a 2years higher school certificate course equivalent

which was equivalent to UK advanced levels.

Entry to university was by passing a national entrance examination called

Joint admission and matriculations examination, the syllabus for the examination was

quite above the GCE standards and barrier to some gifted students who sometimes

have to study the new additions to the main secondary syllabus for another year

before passing this exam, but this one year have now been incorporated into the

present curriculum which have 6years secondary education.


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Activity 2

Hidden curriculum was more prevalent in our school days than it is today, nowadays

students play a large role in their education compared to our times when teacherswhere virtually looked unto as small gods and students are not allowed to make much

contributions in class, but take in all that the teacher says, in most cases the teacher

impress their own believes and attitude to life on the student, the schools were less

democratic, even though there were student leadership bodies, most of their actvities

were dictates of the school head.

Methods of discipline were very hard and this instils fear on the minds of the students

and this fear was carried all along in the class, on the playground and generally within

the school premises, this hinders students from freely making contributions to school

programs and class contribution.

The relationship between teachers and students were not as cordial as we have it today

this hinders communication and confidence on the part of the students from

expressing their pressing needs during conversation with teachers and also from

making suggestions that may in other words have been useful to lessons, also

motivation and confidence of the student were not fostered as the actual abilities of

the students were suppressed.

Today also we have more classes and more teachers and number of students per class

has reduced considerably, this in our time was different as classes were usually

crowded and this does not give room for teachers to attend to individual needs of the

students, as ratio of teach to students were very enormous.


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Activity 3

The School system have changed considerably, considering the recognition of the

hidden curriculum, the school for so many years have been involved in teaching ratherthan learning with the students on the receiving end and not having a say on how they

are being taught, becoming like robots, lots found these difficult and many play along

with the requirement of the system being obedient students, quite and taking down

notes, keeping their own ideas and understanding for fear of being criticised by their

teachers, the authority of the teacher being too overbearing on the students.

However many of the pupils coming to school are coming from different background

and experience based on social, ethnic and cultural background, the teachers need to

be trained to learn to know more about the students they teach and understand their

needs and their backgrounds as this will shape the way we deliver the curriculum that

will best prepare them for the future, lots have to be understood about best

pedagogical approaches to adopt in the classroom towards achieving bettermulticultural classroom learning, although many of the students may want to impress

their negative attitude and learning from outside the school on the school through peer

pressure and activism and also through rebellion, but if the school is more open and

allow students to understand their potentials and develop on their strengths, through

collaborative learning rather than giver to receiver method of delivery, we will

produce from our schools more competent and motivated students.

Hidden curriculum will operate better if teachers have a closer relationship with

students, through concern for the students personal goals, ideas, likes and dislikes,

expectations, targets and relationship with other students.

The teachers will also create a forum for students to make more contributions during

lesson and give critical analysis of students point of views and use better means of

communicating opposite views to the students and also commendations, there should

be more of this commendations to good contributions from students and allow for

freedom of speech and expressions.

Equality within the school community will foster a sense of belonging, irrespective of

race, gender and religion, such should not be an issue that will generate friction but

everyone will be respected for who they are.


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Activity 4 what should the education system aim to achieve?

WRITE: Write about the extent to which you agree with John White that "schools

should be inculcating knowledge relevant to modern society, such as the ability to livehealthily, to manage money and to find fulfilment".

The Points raise by John white are very important as we are in an era where every

aspect of life has advanced so much that if students are not thought a lot of things

relevant to how they will integrate into the society they will struggle to learn this

things themselves along the line and this will defeat the main aim of educational

curriculum which is to create "successful learners", a term defined by theQualifications and Curriculum Authority as being able to study independently,Communicate well and enjoy learning.Inculcating knowledge relevant to modern society, such as the ability to live

Healthily, to manage money and to find fulfilment into the curriculum willenhance learning amongst students and help them develop life skills to adapt andtackle prevalent circumstances in the society.As a science teacher I have observed that the reviews on our teaching materialshave applied this requirement to a very large extent, for example while teachingreproduction the topic is now called sex and science and have included lots ofissues that deals with personal care during pregnancy and after delivery, sexualdevelopment from childhood through puberty, adolescent and adulthood, somesexual complications and how to avoid them etc, a lot of issues were attended toin the personal lives of each students and they enjoyed the lessons more because

apart from living reproduction most of their questions regarding issues they werestruggling with were dealt with at the same time this made learning more

enjoyable.The world has evolved so much that fundamental issues and information students

used to get from interactions with their parents are not being answered at homeanymore as in most cases both parents work and single parenthood has becomevery prevalent in the society, the task now fall on the school to include suchvalues into the curriculum, as well as prepare students for future jobs prospectsand opportunity to earn living we will have to also help them know how todiscover their inbuilt talents and develop in, how to apply this talent toworthwhile activities, how to live and cohabit with others as globalisation has

placed a demand on us to understand that views and backgrounds differ a lot thismodern days and to work with other people we must first understand them toavoid conflict of character, interests and believes which can hinder our success inlife as we need people to succeed, The students also need to learn to live a health

life, there are lots of pollutions as industries have increase, climate changes,waste disposal, high technology food and drinks, dangers using modern daystechnological devices like using waves and radiations etc, the health and safetyimplications need to be included into teaching topics relevant to such issues.In teaching respiration and photosynthesis and waves and radiation in science Ihave discovered that most of this issues have been dealt with and it stimulate thestudents interest the more rather than just learn subject matter,

Encouraging social integration help to encourage developing good relationshipswith others beginning from the school and into the society at large, social skillslike democratic practises were students learning to have a say on how they learnand how school issues are being carried out, learning about diversified society

with people of varied believes and cultures, learning that other peoples interests

are important in building worthwhile friendship and social networks, learning


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about the growing financial situation and how to manage funds and credits andgenerally live a successful and fulfilling life in a fast paced world.

Activity 5

Write about the relevance of John White's curriculum aims to education in a school

system of your own choice. Comment on the strengths and weaknesses of his

formulation from your own point of view. What sort of people do you want your

chosen education system to produce? What sort of qualities should they have and

what should they be able to do?

The success of a society depends on the success of the people living in that society, if

a school will be called a successful school, the success must be reflected on life of the

students, teachers, parents and other supportive staffs related to that school system.

For the above statement to be realised everyone involved in the school system must

work together parents and teachers to bring about this success, according to the

Spanish constitution on christened PRAISE, education at primary and secondary

levels are an essential service to the community whose aims and objectives is to

improve school results, to obtain the success of all in the obligatory education, to

make school childlike process, in degree and in formative cycles, to promote

vocational training, to educate for democratic citizenship, to promote learning that is

fulfilling along life paths, to reinforce the equity of the educational system With the

countries of the EU, the success of the students is very important and this success is

tied to knowing more about themselves, getting involved in worthwhile activities thatwill bring out the best in them, developing skills and enjoying the application of such

skills within the school and their communities, developing quality relationships with

people starting from their friends and fellow students and their teachers to people

within their community and worldwide, helping others to succeed, being

compassionate towards others, understanding democratic values, learning to work

individually and in groups.

The strengths of the curriculum aims of John Whites are that,

1. Good and healthy relationships are developed by the students amongstthemselves and with teachers that strengthens their ability to work with people

that will enhance their inter personal relationship in adult life, at work, in

community services, and globally.

2. They become socially aware of themselves and other people knowing theirweaknesses and that of others and helping others to succeed also create in

themselves a sense of fulfilment.

3. The students are able to apply practical tips to their personal live helping themdiscern from what is health and what is not, learning to critically accept what

thrown at them through media, peer groups and entertainments.

4. The students learn to manage their time, their finances and know what arepriorities and subordinates in their personal budgets and needs.

5. Helps to develop future leaders that understand the ternate of democraticsociety, by being able to accommodate other peoples views and diversity,recognising the varied opinions of variety of people, also the pupil knowing


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their say is important in decision making are able to air their views without

fear of discrimination and contribute to their own learning and feel a sense of

society.

6. These methods also help students develop individual skills as well as learn towork in groups.

The possible weaknesses of the formulations is that more emphasis may become laid

on the well being of students leaving the main subject areas and areas of dying

research need unattended.

My chosen education system will produce adults who are happy to have gone through

school and acquire lots of skills to deal with every aspect of life and adapt easily to

the ever changing world, in their personal life, in dealing with other people, in

participating in politics and contributing their quota to governance and in their work

places.

They will be able to integrate into any system work with people irrespective of race,

culture, religion and gender.

Be good financial and cost managers and run their personal budgets with minimal

excesses,

Be good community leaders and followers, work well to enhance their community

through participating in communal programs geared towards better communal life and

well being.

Be health conscious and cautious consumers of good and services and learn to

manage their resources with minimal loses.

Help others who are less privileged and share their talents for promoting human

advancement and better living.


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Activity 6

Science is a subject that inform and educate us about ourselves, our environment, our

resources and how to develop them, it is very important to teach science in our

schools, the subject help us understand ourselves and everything around us,it also

helps us to be creative, there are lots of investigative practical activities that help

students apart from knowing how things work be able to make things work

themselves, this helps many students to easily feel comfortable with technological

advancement around them and know the sources of this developments, and also build

their confidence in their abilities to be creative and working with others in creative

activities.


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Activity 7

Write about ways in which entering the Knowledge Age could modify the aims of

education. How relevant might the four functions of education, identified above by

Trilling and Hood, be to the development of the Knowledge Age in your own

country?

Entering knowledge age will affect considerably how education is pursued and

delivered.

1. there will be more demand for education, so many discoveries andtechnological advancements requires knowledgeable individual to keep them

going this will prompt more people to pursue academic prowess.

2. Education will be more refined as more people get involved in educationalprograms, the global connections as a result of advanced communication tools

like the internet and telephone systems, contribution to the society will require

everyone developing new skills to meet with the demands of new economies,

learning in areas like ,computer hardware and software engineering,communication engineering, data processing, information technology, and

application of technology in trade processes, climate management, political

and social networking etc.

3. Using available tools like modern technology will become more expedient ineducational policies, getting acquainted with how to use the new technology

and knowing them by dept will facilitate smooth integration into work life

after school, and bring about personal fulfilment and enhancement, by

introducing information technology into mainstream education sector will

make this advancement available to both the rich and the poor and hence

dispel the disparity and align everyone in a fast moving dynamic knowledgeage.

4. Educational aim will be geared towards working hand in hand with globalresearch and advancement, the pace of knowledge have to correspond with the

global advancement, which means education will aim at making contribution

to global economy through research and practical investigation to bring about

advancement.

The Relevance of the Four Function of Educational aims under knowledge age to mycountry


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1. In terms of contributions to the society, new sets of skills are needed to meetthe new opportunities brought about as a result of new technologies, we need

more technical hands for repairs, installations and maintenance of new

technological equipments introduced into the market daily, we also need to

learn new ways of interacting with others and relate with government and our

environment using the technological tools that are evolving through theknowledge age.

2. Power knowledge tools will help people communicate easily, developthemselves academically and socially, government are installing computers in

public places and encouraging people to undergo courses that will empower

them to fit into the changing world and uplift themselves, this create a sense of

fulfilments and purpose.

3. The advancement in electronic media and internet have create great awareamongst people, informations necessary for carrying out our daily obligations

to our community are easily available through this sources and makes our

commitment to fulfilling our role to the society work faster and it also gives us

a broader choice in purchasing what we need for our daily use.4. Spain has gradually embraced globalisation process over the past few years by

admitting lots of immigrants population through its tourism and beautiful

weather most of whom have settled here, the integration process is still on

going, it is expedient to have a set standards for carry over traditions and

merging it with one another to allow for better co existence between people

from different background.

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Holding Back the Years

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Education Before and Now Nigerian Perspective