The Nigerian government has announced the reintroduction of history as a subject in the country’s curriculum, following its removal in 2007. According to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the decision to reinstate the subject was made by President Bola Tinubu, who deemed its removal as a mistake.
In an interview with Arise News, Dr. Alausa expressed his puzzlement over the initial decision to remove history from the curriculum, stating that it was incomprehensible for anyone in their right mind to do so. He emphasized that the current government did not ban the subject, but rather, it was a decision made over a decade ago. The removal of history from primary and junior secondary schools’ curricula in 2007 was attributed to various reasons by the government at the time.
The Minister explained that the President’s directive to review the curriculum led to the reinstatement of Nigerian history as a subject. He noted that the lack of knowledge about the country’s history has resulted in a disconnection between the younger generation and their heritage. Dr. Alausa reiterated that the government has moved swiftly to address this issue and ensure that Nigerian history is once again a part of the curriculum.
In addition to the reinstatement of history, the Minister also announced that the government has banned certain practices in schools that were deemed exploitative. These include the sale of textbooks and graduation ceremonies for nursery school students, which were seen as a means of extorting parents. Dr. Alausa argued that such practices were unacceptable and that the government aims to encourage children to reach meaningful milestones, such as completing primary or secondary school, rather than creating unnecessary ceremonies.
The Minister also addressed the issue of textbook sales, stating that publishers often manipulated the system by including workbooks as part of the textbook, making them unusable after a year. This practice, he claimed, was a means of extorting parents, as they were forced to purchase new textbooks every year, even if the content remained largely unchanged. To combat this, the government has mandated that workbooks be separated from core textbooks, allowing parents to reuse textbooks and reducing costs.
The reintroduction of history and the ban on exploitative practices in schools are seen as significant steps towards improving the education system in Nigeria. The government’s efforts to promote a greater understanding of the country’s history and to protect parents from exploitation are likely to have a positive impact on the education sector and the country as a whole.
