NEW TRENDS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION CURRICULUM FOR KNOWLEDGE BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Since Nigeria’s philosophy of education presents education as “an instrument for national
development” as enshrined in the national policy on education, curriculum development in Nigeria should aim at transporting the country from the old industrial economy to the new knowledge – ased economy. To achieve this goal of education requires a paradigm shift from the present time bound model of education to life-long model of education. By implication, curriculum development for a knowledge economy is based on the development basic skills-thinking skills, interpersonal management and of communication skills, social competencies and other personal qualities such as responsibility, self-esteem, self-management and integrity. The quest for the achievement of this aim of education in different learning contexts in Nigeria is resulting in the emerging issues in curriculum development in the country. These issues among others that are discussed in this paper are curriculum development in education for peace, education for global citizenship, teaching and learning strategies and teacher education. Curriculum development in these emergent areas will help the nation to “live in unity and harmony as one indivisible, indissoluble, democratic and sovereign nation founded on the principles of freedom, equality and justice as enshrined in the national policy on education.
Keywords: New trends, Science education Curriculum, knowledge based, economic
development.
INIOBONG FRED AKPAN-Ph.D
NEW TRENDS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION CURRICULUM FOR KNOWLEDGE BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Since Nigeria’s philosophy of education presents education as “an instrument for national development” as enshrined in the national policy on education, curriculum development in Nigeria should aim at transporting the country from the old industrial economy to the new knowledge – ased economy. To achieve this goal of education requires a paradigm shift from the present time bound model of education to life-long model of education. By implication, curriculum development for a knowledge economy is based on the development basic skills-thinking skills, interpersonal management and of communication skills, social competencies and other personal qualities such as responsibility, self-esteem, self-management and integrity. The quest for the achievement of this aim of education in different learning contexts in Nigeria is resulting in the emerging issues in curriculum development in the country. These issues among others that are discussed in this paper are curriculum development in education for peace, education for global citizenship, teaching and learning strategies and teacher education. Curriculum development in these emergent areas will help the nation to “live in unity and harmony as one indivisible, indissoluble, democratic and sovereign nation founded on the principles of freedom, equality and justice as enshrined in the national policy on education. Keywords: New trends, Science education Curriculum, knowledge based, economic development.