The Federal Government has inaugurated a 20-member committee to review the curricula and all sports-related courses offered in universities and other tertiary institutions in the country.
Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, who inaugurated the committee late Thursday in Abuja, urged the members to comprehensively review existing physical/health education (sports and sports science) courses accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), as well as curricula by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).
He added that the content, delivery method and skills outcomes must be assessed and evaluated.
According to him, the present sports curricula in tertiary institutions and other schools still focus on theoretical content and outdated frameworks.
Alausa added that for Nigeria to do what other prosperous sports countries are doing, there was a need to go back to the drawing board while calling for a return to foundational development in sports from early childhood.
The Minister said “Education is sports, and sports is education”, adding that many countries doing well in sports have nurtured their kids from kindergarten, saying, however, that many youths are wasting away.
He also pointed out that the past robust sporting system in Nigeria in the days of the Shooting Stars and other clubs has disappeared.
Nigerians, he said, are now glued to DSTV beaming premiership matches from abroad and paying heavily to watch them.
“How did we get here? That means we are not doing the right things.
“So, we are putting this committee together to put the curricula together,” he said
The Minister listed the terms of reference of the committee as: Review existing Physical/Health Education, Sports, and Sports Science courses accredited by NUC, NBTE, NCCE, and curricula from NERDC.
“Recommend updates to course content, structure, or new programmes in line with global sports trends and standards. Propose structures for establishing sports/sports science departments and faculties.
“Suggest strategies for linking sports courses with other fields such as medicine (physiotherapy) and business (sports management).
“Identify relevant documents and resources needed for the committee’s work. Submit a detailed report based on evaluations and deliberations,” he said.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant on Digital Communications and E-Learning to the Minister, Mojoyinoluwa Adebajo, described the inauguration as critical to Nigeria’s sports development.
Members include:Hajia Rekiya Ilyasu – Director, University Education, FME, Alex Usman Ejeh -Director, Polytechnic Education, FME, Dr Uche Uba – Director, Colleges of Education, FME.
Others are Mojoyin Adebajo – Special Assistant, Digital Communications & E-Learning, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu – Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle – Executive Secretary, NCCE and Prof. Idris Bugaje – Executive Secretary, NBTE.
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