Oyo lawmaker, representing Oriire Constituency, Hon. J.A Ogundele, has called for a comprehensive review of education curricula in public primary and secondary schools to empower students acquire contemporary skills needed.
Ogundele who made the call at the floor of the House on Tuesday, said that in today’s rapidly evolving world, it is crucial for our educational system to equip students with relevant skills and knowledge.
According to him, globally, education systems in countries such as Finland, Singapore, and Canada have integrated advanced competencies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain Technology, Coding, Robotics and many more digital literacy programmes to ensure students are well-prepared for future challenges.
He maintained that modernizing the country’s educational curriculum will offer several key advantages such as future-readiness.
He said: “By incorporating contemporary skills such as AI and blockchain, it ensures that students are equipped with knowledge that is increasingly relevant in the global job market. This prepares them for emerging industries and technological advancements.
“The rise of Al, Blockchain, and digital tools is transforming various industries. Artificial Intelligence is rapidly becoming an ubiquitous part of our daily lives, from powering our smartphones to automating complex tasks in various sectors. Blockchain technology is revolutionizing industries such as finance, healthcare and supply chain management. Digital tools are becoming increasingly essential for communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.”
The lawmaker stressed that many educational systems globally have adapted their curricula to include these new competencies, setting high standards for students* preparedness and creating a competitive advantage for their graduates.
He added, “By failing to equip our students with these skills, we risk turning out graduates who cannot compete in the job markets because the degree they are acquiring are no longer functional. This makes them fall behind their peers, limits their future prospects and forces them to embrace crime in a bid to survive. So let us take them away from playing games on their computers and discourage them from exploring corrupt and morally degrading aspects of the internet.”
Ogundele called on Oyo state government to align the state education curricula with international standards, to ensure that students in the State are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete with their peers globally at an early stage.
This, according to him, will enhance their opportunities for further education and employment, positioning them for success in the 21st century and it will raise the bar of educational standard in the State.
The House of Assembly however urged the Executive Arm of Government, through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and other relevant Agencies, to conduct a thorough review of the State’s public primary and secondary school curricula in order to incorporate modern competencies and skills like digital literacy, critical thinking, blockchain technology, coding, robotics, data mining, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, robotics, and other relevant fields.
