Phenomenon Based-Learning for Nigerian Higher Institutions: A new Curriculum Approach to meet the Challenges of the 21st Century

Abstract

Education generally, aims at fostering quality of life that encompasses moral, intellectual and economic growth of an individual and the larger society. The success of any society hinges on the nature of its education; and this saliently, can be determined through the framework of its curriculum design, which part of its sources, society and the learners' needs count much weight. Considering the nature of unemployment in Nigeria, and dearth of modern skills among many students of higher institutions of learning, no one will dispute that there is need to have a curriculum design, particularly at higher institutions, capable of imbuing students with soft skills and empowering other individuals to satisfy their optimal needs in the modern-world. This paper attempts to review the nature and problems of Nigerian education, especially in terms of achieving the stated objectives in the National policy of education (NPE), through reviewing the available literature. The exertion suggests that one of the best ways to reduce the mentioned problems is to bring about new curriculum design at higher institutions of learning, called ‘phenomenon based-learning’. It is a design/program attempts to capture a phenomenon in formation. It is a multi-dimensional and skills-oriented program, which through its design, individuals (students and non-students) having unique passions will be accommodated to learn modern skills related to their jobs/businesses or passion. Hence, it will enable them to enhance their jobs, become more independent and generally serve as means for satisfying one’s passion.