Events from the past shape the future, and the study of history, which entails learning about the past in relation to the future, is very crucial to growth and development of any nation.
It is necessary for citizens of any country to understand and question how they arrived at their present state or level in global rankings, especially in terms of socio-political and economic rating. Sadly, the study of history in Nigerian primary and secondary schools have been buried under the carpet for decades, little glimpse of the study is from the Social Studies subject. In a bid to address this problem, the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, has ordered the re-introduction of history in Nigerian schools.
Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.
Winston Churchill, (Former British Prime Minister)
History Back In Our Schools
Accompanied with the return of history to school curriculum is training of primary school teachers on digital literacy. This was disclosed by Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, during the launch of Education for Justice Programme on June 18, 2018. Implementation in 12 primary and secondary schools across the six geopolitical zones has already started, instructional classes inclusive. The initiative by the FG has received great applause from Nigerians. In a digitalized world, Nigeria must meet up to global trends and equally have an educational system operating within global standards.
Sunny Echono, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education disclosed the readiness of the Nigerian government to ensure the return of history as a standalone subject during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday June 21, 2019.
By the next academic calendar, history will be taught as a standalone subject. It is with immediate implementation. So, definitely for the next academic year everybody will fall in line because we already articulated the curriculum and the examination should be done along those lines
Sunny Echono (Perm. Sec. Fed. Min of Edu.)
It will be recalled that the omission of history from school curriculum received criticism from Nigerian scholars like Wole Soyinka:
I learnt not so long ago that history has been taken off the curriculum in this country. Can you imagine that? History? Or maybe I should ask, what is wrong with some people’s head?…. History is so fundamental to self knowledge, to identity, to understanding where you came from and therefore where you might be headed…. So how can a subject like History be excised from the curriculum of any school?
Professor Wole Soyinka
The federal government’s order of History’s inclusion in schools curriculum marks fulfillment of promise made by Adamu Adamu while as Minister of Education early into the first tenure of President Buhari back in May, 2016:
Somebody who doesn’t know his history is even worse than dead. So this government is going to bring back history….It would even be better if we study local history first. You have to know who you are before you can be anything in this world….I believe this government is going to return history back to the curriculum.
Adamu Adamu (Former Minister of Education)
Sources
nffonline.com
thecable.ng
punchng.com
sunnewsonline.com
premiumtimesng.com
Featured Image source: Guardian.ng