The Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT has advised the Federal Government of Nigerians to simplify and clarify the ambiguous curriculum.
The Secretary-General of NUT, Dr Mike Ike-Ene, maintained that the curriculum should be geared towards making the learners productive and employers of labour, adding that any content outside of these should be removed.
Ike-Ene made this statement while suggesting key areas in the basic education sector that the government should prioritise in 2025.
“One key area that requires attention is the curriculum. The government should reconsider the current approach, which is outdated and too rigid. It is too big. The focus should not solely be on preparing individuals for white-collar jobs but rather on empowering people to become employers. Therefore, the curriculum must be tailored to make individuals more productive and equip them with practical skills for the modern economy.”
He also called for renovations in the government-owned schools and the establishment of more structures, saying that most FG schools needed more new structures and renovations.
Ike-Ene complained about the low education budgetary allocation.
“The current education budget is inadequate. We are still struggling to allocate even 5% of the national budget to education, which is far too low considering the importance of this sector.
Most of our national progress hinges on education. If more people were educated, we could reduce crime and improve overall societal well-being.
He called on FG to improve the welfare of education staff in 2025.
“Therefore, I urge the government to focus on the welfare of those in the educational sector, as well as other industries.”
“For example, I recently visited an oil company, and workers there would never have to protest about unpaid wages because they are well compensated. This highlights the importance of ensuring fair wages and good welfare conditions for workers in every sector. If the government neglects the welfare of workers, productivity will inevitably decline.
“Ultimately, improving the welfare of workers across all industries, especially those involved in education, is critical. Additionally, ensuring that education is accessible to all Nigerians must remain a top priority,” he said.
