Disaster Risk Reduction in School Curricula: Case Studies ... - Unicef

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Section 10.
Case 30:
The Case Studies
Nigeria
Overview
Nigeria is currently undertaking a formal
curriculum review with a view to integrating
climate change adaptation, disaster risk
reduction and gender issues at all levels
of curricula.
Its emphasis on linking gender issues
with DRR and climate change adaptation
will be worth monitoring, especially given
that DRR and climate change are rarely
approached through a gender lens
in school.
Introduction
At the time of writing (November 2011), climate change and
DRR curriculum integration at both the primary and secondary
level are ongoing but in their early stages in Nigeria.
The National Education and Research and Development Council
(NERDC), the government agency responsible for curriculum
development, is undertaking a DRR curriculum review in
conjunction with the National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA). Their curriculum development initiative falls under
the Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP) 126 , launched in 2010
by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in
partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO) and UNICEF with financial support from
the Government of Japan 127 . In addition to developing national
climate change policy, an advocacy network, hydropower
generation and more adaptive farming practices, AAP for Nigeria
undertakes school curricula reviews as well as the development
and implementation of teacher education programmes on
climate change. UNICEF-led components include improving
skills-based education to address issues of climate change
at the basic education level (UNICEF WCARO, 2011).
Curriculum Development/Integration
Upon the completion of the curriculum review by NERDC and
NEMA climate change, DRR and gender issues will be integrated
into relevant subjects 128 .
There is agreement among the key stakeholders involved in
the curriculum review and development process that no new
subjects will be created and DRR themes and topics will be
infused into carrier subjects.
The latest DRR curriculum planning document (drafted by
NERDC, NEMA, experts from the University, Fire Service,
Primary and Secondary School system) are structured according
to a consistent three to five key themes for all grades at primary,
junior secondary and senior secondary school levels. They are:
‘You and Disaster’, ‘Disaster Disk Reduction Practice’, ‘Disaster
Management’, ‘Disaster Risk Reduction Administration’, ‘Safety
Measures against Disasters’. At the junior secondary level,
the topic of civil unrest appears under these themes (NERDC/
NEMA, 2011).
Pedagogy
Pedagogical approaches are to be developed once the curriculum
review is completed. The Teacher’s Guidance Pack on Climate
Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction and Gender Issues,
currently under development, is being drafted as a collaborative
venture between the Fresh & Young Brains Development
Initiative, the Federal Ministry of Education and UNICEF (FME/
UNICEF, 2011a).
The Teacher’s Guidance Pack lists of curriculum integration
points for teaching about climate change adaptation, DRR
and gender issues in the following subject areas: Agriculture,
Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, English,
English Literature, Elementary and Integrated Science, Fine and
Applied Arts, Food and Nutrition, Geography, History, Home
Economics, Introductory Technology, Mathematics, Other
Languages, Physical and Health Education, Physics, Religious
and Moral Instruction, Social Studies. Examples include:
Mathematics: simple calculations of carbon and ecological
food prints, equations and gender equality
126
Alice Akunga & Judith Giwa-Amu, UNICEF Nigeria, to Fumiyo Kagawa,
19, 31 October 2011.
127
http://www.undp-aap.org/
128
Kayode Fagbemi, National Emergency Management Agency,
to Fumiyo Kagawa, 29 November 2011.
Disaster Risk Reduction in School Curricula: Case Studies from Thirty Countries