NUC Urges Continuous Curriculum Reform in Nigerian Universities

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has called for continuous curriculum reform in Nigerian universities to keep up with the fast-changing world.

The acting executive secretary, Chris Maiyaki, emphasized this need at the British Council Workshop on Enhancing Curriculum and Pedagogical Approaches in Nigerian Universities held at the Continental Hotel on Monday.

According to Maiyaki, initiating such reforms comes with challenges, as the actualization of the curriculum renewal is not always fully realized due to implementation issues.

He stressed the importance of continuous curriculum reform to help universities adapt to the ever-evolving global landscape.

The new Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) were recently developed in line with the Commission’s enabling laws.

The curriculum was a result of sustained stakeholder interactions and engagement over the years, involving academic experts, government, professional bodies, and the private sector represented by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG.

To enrich the draft documents, copies of each discipline were sent to relevant stakeholders, including universities, the private sector, professional bodies, and academies for their comments and input.

These inputs, along with the curriculum of programs obtained from 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 were incorporated into the General studies Courses to enhance the employability skills of graduates.

The new curriculum unbundled the Bachelor of Agriculture, Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication, and the Bachelor of Architecture programs, while establishing some emerging specializations in these fields, in line with global practices.

However, Maiyaki emphasized that this is not a one-time process, as there will be continuous curriculum development and review to keep up with current global trends.

The NUC secretary also pointed out the need to train university staff, both academic and non-academic, in the implementation of the new curriculum.

He stressed that knowledge without implementation is an exercise in futility, and training without practice is a waste of effort.

The NUC has a policy to train and retrain university staff in the implementation of ideas and policies that are functional to the wellbeing of institutions.

The NUC urges continuous curriculum reform in Nigerian universities to ensure that graduates are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in a rapidly changing world.