NUT lauds FG on development of early childhood education curriculum

THE leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers has commended the Federal Government’s efforts in development polices and curriculum on early childhood education in Nigeria.

National president of the union, Dr. Nasir Idris, said he was particularly delighted that the Federal Government and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education had to partner with NUT in developing polices and curriculum on early childhood education.

Idris, who was represented by the first national vice president of the union, Akosile Samuel, spoke at a four-day workshop on Learning through Play for early childhood education teachers in the Federal Capital Territory, organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers in partnership with Danish Union of Early Childhood and Youth Educators (BUPL).

He called for the strengthening of the capacity of early childhood educators to conform to international best practices for a holistic and functional development of the school child.

The chairperson of Danish Union of Early Childhood and Youth Educators, Jonna Jul Gudyundsen, expressed delight over the sustained interest of NUT in early child development.

She said, “The union’s 11-year partnership with BUPL has positively impacted on teachers and the school child as learning through play is good for the child and the teacher. It is important to keep playing with the kids.”

Ms Gudyundsen stated that the workshop was aimed at sharing vital knowledge and experience between Denmark and Nigerian teachers, and that participants would be exposed to new ways to play with kids.

In his goodwill message, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, represented by Mrs. Osighala Dorothy, assistant director, basic and secondary education, praised the NUT for its consistency in the promotion of early childhood education development.

Adamu said the ministry is interested in the benefits of the NUT-BUPL partnership, and is disposed to adopting the gains of the partnership to be integrated in future government policies on early child care and development.

The National Universities Commission, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, National Commission for Colleges of Education, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, and the Universal Basic Education Commission were all represented at the event, and over 50 teachers of the FCT participated in the four-day workshop.