The Annual Alimosho MUTAN-MSSN interactive forum has ended, with a call on government to restructure the educational curriculum to meet Nigeria’s developmental needs.
The forum, which was the fifth in the series, brought together Muslim teachers, students and parents to discuss the challenges facing the Muslims in the education sector in Lagos State.
The theme for this year was “The Tripod” which highlighted the inseparable roles of Muslim teachers, parents and the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN, in building a well-rounded students that would be beneficial to the society.
Curriculum for future
A former Assistant Deputy Vice Chancellor, Kampala International University, Uganda, Professor, Ahmed Adedeji said the current curriculum should be rounded off and a new one that will meet the demands of the future must designed.
Professor Adedeji said that Nigeria had a bright future and a unique character which it must find about itself within the larger global community.
“We should round off whatever we are doing with this curriculum now and reengineer the curriculum that fits Nigerian development, especially with respect to what we should be doing from now to the future. Curriculum are designed for a group of people that has a goal to achieve in life. Let’s us strive on what we are known to have long ago, a curriculum of a new culture,” he said.
The Professor of Pharmacology at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, said that the government should also look at structuring the new curriculum to promote learning in those traditional professions that were major revenue earners such as blacksmithing, different craft systems and farming.
Call for infrastructure provisions
Speaking on the topic, “21st Century Learning” guest lecturer at the forum, Mr Abduwahab Muhammadul Awwal, called for more infrastructural provisions for the education sector to meet global standards.
He also said the current curriculum hinders the children from skills development.
“We train our children on cognitive orientation of education, not emphasising on affective aspect of it and the psychomotor aspect of it.
Mr Lawal, a Director of Education and Vice Principal, Elegbata Senior High School, identified the problem of overpopulation in the schools as a major hindrance to educational development in Nigeria.
The Deputy Missioner, Lagos State MUTAN, therefore, urged governments at various levels to address the numerous challenges in the education sector so that Nigerian students can compete favourably with their counterparts across the world.
The Amir (President), MSSN Lagos Area Unit, Dr Saheed Ashafa, said the society had been in the forefront of moulding students for greater societal responsibilities.
Ashafa was represented at the event by the society’s General Secretary, Mr Saheed Adigun.
