Educationists Harp on Importance of History in Nigerian Curriculum

Funmi Ogundare

A director in Nigerian Educational Research Curriculum Development ( NERDC) Dr. Dada Shonibare has described history as a useful subject to be studied locally and internationally saying all events are established on historical antecedent of the nation.

Dr. Shonibare who made this known, recently at the launch of book on History for Primary Schools in Nigeria, affirmed that the subject has gone beyond computation of events, but the discovery of rights, informed judgement and the creation of an assertive population.

” There are many barriers placed against total empowerment of individuals in the society. These strategies are hidden in the history of time, widely opened to be explored and benefitted from both as a entity and as a nation.”

He noted that the book exposes the various aspect of Nigerian history with the intent to foster unity and create national role model for the upcoming generation.”

He emphasised need to train teachers, organise seminars and establish a teachers guide that would enable effective teaching of the Nigerian history, adding that students should also be exposed to the curriculum.

“To what extent are school administrators aware of the history curriculum? To what extent are teachers trained in the use of the new history curriculum? To what extent are the assessment agents prepared for feedbacks on the impact of the curriculum?” Shonibare asked.

The author of the book, Prince Olalekan Quadri said the integration of history into the curriculum would not only be of value to the student, but to all and sundry.

” Leaders do not learn from the past and if you forget about the past, there is no way you can learn about the present so as not to make mistakes. If we are bringing back history today, the NERDC should enforce the study of history in our schools so that people can learn.

The board member in charge of Special project, Bayo Adefuye described those who have disabilities as being able in a special way.

He recalled that those who represented Nigeria in the last Paralympic games, came back with medals.
” The real disability is in the way we think. We must change our perspective on the way we think as not all disability is visible,” he said.

The Chairman of the board, Wahab Alawiye-King said he believes that every child counts in Lagos as there is ability in disability.

He recalled an incident when he was physically incapacitated by illness saying, ” I know what it is to be physically challenged.”

He advised parents who are still hiding their wards with one form of disability or another to bring them out to relate and socialise with others which is part of development.