Page 31 - Grundtvig International Secondary School Yearbook 2019

MATHEMATICS
OVERLOADED AND UNSTABLE CURRICULUM: DEPARTMENT
WHICH WAY NIGERIA?

secondary subjects: English Language, Math, Basic Science, Basic Tech, Computer Studies, Physical
and Health Education, Igbo, French, Christian Religious Studies, Business Studies, Music, Fine Arts,
Agric Science, Home Economics, Civic Education and Social Studies. In the final examination, the
unexpected happens. Basic Science, Basic Tech, Computer Studies and PHE are merged as Basic
Science and Technology (BST) and
written under three hours in a multi-
section question paper. Music and Fine
Arts go together as Cultural and Creative Well, for those of you who admire
Arts; Agric and Home Economics are the present miscegena on in our
taken as Prevocational Studies. If this is curriculum, I leave you with some
not insanity, nothing is.
ques ons. What do we hope to
achieve from merging these
Well, for those of you who admire the
p re s e n t m i s c e g e n a t i o n i n o u r s u b j e c t s d u r i n g t h e fi n a l
curriculum, I leave you with some examina on, a er teaching them
questions. What do we hope to achieve as separate subjects? Are the
from merging these subjects during the individual objec ves of each
final examination, after teaching them
as separate subjects? Are the individual component subject being
objectives of each component subject realized?
being realized? Since our national exam
bodies, with their grey hair, still publish
results without analysis and detailed
report, does the final result of these hybrid subjects in any way indicate the ability of the students in the
constituent subjects? If a child gets a credit grade in BST, for instance, does it reflect his ability in
Basic Science or Basic Technology and Computer Studies? Does the final result give the students and
their parents enough guidance when choosing courses in the Senior Secondary and much later in life?
Which way, Nigeria?

Graduands: my advice is short. FOLLOW YOUR HEARTS.

Nwutara, C is a software developer and an applied mathematician. He heads math department,
coordinates international exams, co-developed and manages the GISS Portal.

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