REVIEW OBSOLETE CURRICULUM, INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY INTO NIGERIA SCHOOL SYSTEM:

...HIGH CHIEF IFEKUDU APPEALS TO GOVERNMENT


Foremost Nigeria Patriot, National Honour recipient, philanthropist, Astute business Mogul and
Chairman Diamond Leeds Limited, High Chief Kenneth Ifekudu, OFR, (Agbalanze Onyekachukwu na Ozubulu) has called for the integration of digital technology such as Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Robotics, Games and Simulations, Adaptive Learning Algorithm and a regular review and updating of the curriculum to ensure its relevance and alignment with the evolving needs of students and adequately address current societal challenges and technological advancements.


High Chief Ifekudu noted that the current approach of memorizing and regurgitating as the basis for acquiring knowledge in Nigerian schools has become less valuable because knowledge can now be easily recalled with the push of a button on digital devices.



He bemoaned Nigeria's present education curriculum which is centred on the acquisition of abstract terms, content mastery, more exam-oriented, over-reliance on paper qualification which stifles creativity, hinder the development of students' higher-order thinking abilities, problem-solving skills, can-do attitude of an individual and significantly impacts of on students’ ability to apply the terms in problematic situations.


He further expressed sadness that Nigerian students are lagging behind when compared with their counterpart in first world countries where schools are incorporating emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, and Augmented Reality, into the classroom to enable more innovative and engaging teaching methods and learning experiences.


He stated that year four students at St. Leonard’s College, a primary school in Australia, are using tablets loaded with math apps and e-textbooks to access information, receive instruction, record measurements, and conduct research while in Vanderbilt University, graduate students are designing an Android app that enables visually impaired students to learn math. Using haptic technology integrated into new touchscreen devices, the vibrations and audio feedback help students feel and hear shapes and diagrams.


He re-emphasized that integration of technology will improve learning among Nigerian students. He stated that rather than learning about medicine in a standard classroom setting, students in one location can Zoom with medical professionals around the world and learn about their work and even see items they’re working on in real-time and also learn science on the International Space Station and traveling back in time to explore ancient Rome and role-play out important historic events with all from the safety of the physical classroom.


He passionately appealed to
the federal Ministry of Education, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), National University Commission (NUC) Vice chancellors of Nigerian Universities and Stakeholders in the education sector to take into cognisance, the shift in technological paradigms such as artificial intelligence, robotics engineering and different emerging concepts in redesigning befitting new school curricula for Nigerian institutions, seek increased funding from private and government establishment because a developed economy or nation is a reflection of the human capital development which can only be achieved through proper levels of education measured in qualitative terms.