September 22, 2021
By Ilyasa
Through the Curriculum Department at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, three new subjects have been added to the curriculum for those in primary and Junior Secondary levels.
The three subjects are Civic Education, Environmental Education and Sexual and Comprehensive Safety.
According to the Communications Officer at the Ministry, the additional subjects are geared towards boosting the quality aspect of the Free Quality Education, the government of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio is implementing.
He said these subjects resonate with the current trend and they are fit for purpose. He said it was a taboo to talk to girls about menstruation but the situation has changed as girls will be taught at school about sexual reproductive matters.
Environmental Education as a subject, he advanced, would raise awareness on climate change issues adding that Civic Education is key to raising awareness on civic rights and responsibilities of citizens. He said these subjects are not new but modified to fit the country’s environment not like before when pupils depended solely on Nigerian text books to pass exams.
However, teachers have been equipped with the requisite skills through training
Of trainers workshops across the regions.
The reinstatement of the Curriculum Department has been lauded by citizens as well as the civil society on the grounds that it will have positive impact on the Free Quality Education. An ex teacher, Alusine Sesay in Waterloo said with the curriculum department, the requisite knowledge will be passed on to learners instead of out dated materials.
Mbalu Kamara, a Junior Secondary pupil of the Peninsula Secondary School in the Western Rural District told this medium that the introduction of these subjects is a milestone achievement especially for girls.
The Ministry is being commended for its radical inclusion drive which the Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh has not been taking lightly as he ensures that their flagship programme which is education becomes a success story.