FG should design learning indicators for Nigeria’s educational development – Expert

Dr. Bisi Akin-Alabi, Former Special Adviser on Education to Ex-Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajumobi, has urged the Federal Ministry of Education to design Learning indicators based on the intended learning outcomes and focus on the learners’ accomplishments; learning process and its preconditions.

The Education Expert, who spoke with Tribune Online recently, said each learning indicator should be grounded in specific, observable, and measurable progress made towards achieving an intended learning outcome or realising an intended learning process.

According to Akin-Alabi, learning indicators should be considered which relate to learning outcomes with respect to intended action competences for the present and the future, the core education goals.

The Consultant noted that these competences can be differentiated into personality competences consisting of social and self-competences as well as subject competences and methodological competences; presently, all these competencies are affected by digital transformation.

She emphasized that digital literacy cannot be ignored as it is said that the illiterates of tomorrow are not those that cannot read or write but those who are not digitally literate.

Dr. Bisi explained that the learning indicators include those that have a direct impact on the learners’ learning (e.g., integrative and applied learning; problem-solving; information and digital literacy; self-directed learning; reflection/ critical thinking) or their development as citizens (e.g., civic engagement; intercultural knowledge and competence; conflict coping; ethical behaviour).

“We need to first and foremost put round pegs in round holes so that we can have education thought leaders in the right roles to ensure the right policy framework is developed that would be focused on meeting societal needs and ensure our children get an education that is globally competitive and locally relevant.

“To achieve this, the education ministry must design Learning indicators based on the intended learning outcomes and focus on the learners’ accomplishments; learning process and its preconditions.

“Each learning indicator should be grounded in specific, observable, and measurable progress made towards achieving an intended learning outcome or realising an intended learning process.

“In general, learning indicators should be considered which relate to learning outcomes with respect to intended action competences for the present and the future, the core education goals.

“These competences can be differentiated into personality competences consisting of social and self-competences as well as subject competences and methodological competences; presently, all these competencies are affected by digital transformation.

“So we cannot ignore digital literacy as it’s said that the illiterates of tomorrow are not those that cannot read or write but those who are not digitally literate (anonymous).

“Among the learning indicators, for example, we can include those that have a direct impact on the learners’ learning (e.g., integrative and applied learning; problem-solving; information and digital literacy; self-directed learning; reflection/ critical thinking) or their development as citizens (e.g., civic engagement; intercultural knowledge and competence; conflict coping; ethical behaviour).” She said.