NERDC, PPDC Commence Adoption Of Online Safety Courses Into Nigerian School Curriculum

REMARKS BY THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF NERDC, PROF. ISMAIL JUNAIDU, AT THE WRITING WORKSHOP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT ONLINE SAFETY CURRICULUM FOR NIGERIAN SCHOOLS HOLDING AT FRESHLAND HOTEL, MARABA, NASARAWA STATE DATE: 19TH - 24TH MARCH 2019

Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to welcome you to this workshop for the development of the online safety curriculum for Nigerian schools. I like to use this opportunity to sincerely thank you for finding time toparticipate in this workshop. Between 5th and 6th of December 2018; at this same venue, we held the concept development workshop. At that workshop, we articulated an overarching Concept Plan that harmonized various thoughts and ideas into a clear and logical directions as to what should constitute the objectives and contents of the intended curriculum. I sincerely thank all of you who participated in that workshop for doing a good job.

Distinguished participants and scholars, this project is a collaborative one between the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and the Public Private Development Centre (PPDC) with sponsorship from Google. Let me inform you that one fundamental factor that enhances the provision of quality services to the citizens of a nation is the willingness of key government functionaries and agencies to form alliance with individuals and groups, especially the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the initiation, delivery and management of programmes and projects. It was this understanding that led to the coming together of NERDC and PPDC. The collaboration, while ensuring the maintenance of our organizational differences, has,in the past few months, resulted in the broadening of perspectives, knowledge and skills, particularly in the areas of project design and management.

One common interest that has driven and sustained the partnership is the desire to ensure safe and responsible use of the internet among young internet users as they explore, maximize and utilize all the benefits the internet offers. This led to the conceptualization and kick-off of this lofty project. You will agree with me that there is no better time for a project of this nature than now that the internet has become a centre of attraction and a hub for heinous crimes. It is thus our responsibility, as a foremost education agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to provide safety guides for our youths who are not only very passionate in the use of the internet, but also very much naive and ignorant of the ills and dangers that pervade its use. I would therefore wish to thank PPDC and Google for the interest they have shown in this project. It is also my wish that this partnership is sustained to ensure a successful completion of the project activitiesas identified and outlined in the project workplan.

Dear participants, let me draw your attention to that fact that this writing workshop is the most crucial stages in our curriculum development process. It is at this stage that the curriculum assumes its shape which in the overall, determines the strength and efficacy of the curriculum. Precisely in this workshop. you will be tasked with the responsibility of organizing the curriculum contents and learning experiences, identifying and organizing teaching and learning resources, as well as setting and organizing the assessment benchmarks (evaluation guides). Doing these will require bringing to bear your expertise, experience and scholarship to ensure that the outcome of this workshop meets global standards.

Finally, I wish to guarantee you of the commitment of my Council to the successful development of this curriculum and its introduction into the Nigeria primary and secondary schools.

Thank you and God bless Nigeria!