NERDC Launches New Curriculum for Secondary Schools

I guess this is stale news for some already in the Secondary School space in Nigeria. However, for those who are just learning about it, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) had been working on phasing out the old school curriculum since 2008 and came out with a commendable result towards the end of 2009 for both the 9-Year Basic Education and a Revised Senior Secondary School curriculum.
The aim is to ensure that students have FUNCTIONAL education that has adequately taken into consideration current trends and happenings in the country and globally.
For the Revised Senior Secondary School curriculum which is to commence implementation in all secondary schools across the country from September 2011, highlights of it include the inclusion of Computer Studies as well as one Vocational Studies as compulsory subjects along with English Language and Mathematics.
In precise terms, the curriculum has five cross cutting core subjects, which include English Studies, General Mathematics,  Entrepreneurial Trade subject, Computer Studies, and Civic Education. It also has four distinct fields of study as Senior Secondary Education Science, Humanities, Technology and Business with 34 Entrepreneurial Trades to provide required skills for job creation and poverty eradication.
The idea behind the recommendation is commendable because in this modern world, we have come to realize that one needs more than English Language and knowledge of Mathematics as compulsory skills to survive. To use the internet, computers and even some modern "smart-phones" now require a reasonable level of computer knowledge. And the world is evolving towards a point where to be "Computer-Illiterate" is to simply be Illiterate in all practical meanings and implications of the word!
Since the position and recommendations of the NERDC is backed by observable facts and events in the country and world wide, it is imperative for private and public secondary schools to commence the implementation of the new curriculum for the benefit of their students!
The new curriculum had been launched in March 2011 by the Federal Government through Minister of Education Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, thus giving schools adequate time to prepare for its implementation, moreover when it is to the benefits of the students.
But how do secondary schools in the country cope with this new and laudable development? For some, who have already the foresight of delivering qualitative and functional education in line with the dictates of the times, such is not a major problem as they've already envisaged or even commenced their own implementation prior to the NERDC recommendations. However, for some, it is an uphill task!
It is re-assuring to know that the NERDC thinks in the same direction as EasiPREP, where we are simplifying examination preparation with technology and encouraging students to adopt computing skills as a necessity for a bright future in the world of today and the future!