A recent call to action from educationist Mrs. Eugenia Nwanekwu has highlighted the need for a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s educational curriculum.

This appeal comes on the heels of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) report on the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which revealed a dismal performance by candidates.

The statistics are staggering, as 75% of candidates scored below 200, while a mere 1% scored above 300.

These numbers have sparked concerns about the effectiveness of the current curriculum in preparing students for tertiary education.

Mrs. Nwanekwu, a retired director in the Rivers State Ministry of Education, emphasised the need for a curriculum that aligns with current educational needs.

“The curriculum should be reformed to align with current education needs. It is possible that the current curriculum is outdated and does not meet the needs of today’s students,” she stated.

She also said the need for training and retraining of teachers to meet current educational requirements.

The educationist highlighted the lack of advanced knowledge among some teachers and their reluctance to further their education as factors that could impact teachers’ effectiveness and, in turn, students’ performance.

She noted that teachers should update their knowledge by participating in training workshops in order to acquire more knowledge to impart to children.

“Many teachers are not fit for the teaching profession. When a teacher is knowledgeable, they will be able to effectively teach their students, leading to better performance in examinations,” she added.