President Julius Maada Bio has received draft civics textbooks from the National Council for Civic Education and Development (NaCCED) at his Presidential Lodge in Freetown. The final documents were presented by the chairman of NaCCED’s Steering Committee, Dennis Bright and head of the Civic Curriculum Development Team, Professor Joe A.D. Alie. A year ago the Civic Curriculum Development Team was set up by the council and mandated to develop and produce curriculum contents in the form of textbooks to acquire innovative approaches for the promotion of good citizenship, especially for pupils in classes 1 to 6 and JSS 1 to 3. NaCCED chairman Kalilu Totangi expressed gratitude to the president for being forthright and forward looking in setting up the Council for Civic Education and Development, citing that the council since its inception has established its head office in Freetown with the appropriate level of staff and recruited regional coordinators for the country’s four regions.
Professor Joe A.D. Alie noted that “Citizens education is not about trying to fit everyone into the same would, or an indoctrination but it is rather aimed at presenting learners with different viewpoints and allowing them to make informed decisions for themselves,” Prof. Alie noted, adding that citizenship education involves a wide range of different elements that includes knowledge and understanding, skills and aptitudes, and values and dispositions. Dr Denis Bright, while presenting the final draft documents, expressed optimism that “NaCCED is ready for work because every recent event justifies the absolute need for the intervention of civic engagement.”
President Bio expressed gratitude to the council for taking national issues seriously, stating that a sure way to correct societal ills and shortcomings is by gradual approach through civic education. When things fall apart, he said they happen in bits and pieces, and to rebuild requires the same progression. For one to be proud of his or her country, President Bio said one should recognise the peculiarities of the country in order not to lose his or her identity and heritage. President Bio said civics is a big part of what the country wants to achieve which, according to him, takes conscious and deliberate efforts to bring civics back to schools. He added that the textbooks should be digitised so that the level of access would be enhanced and sustained for this and future generations.
The president said civics encourages one to be proud of where they come from, “because there is no small history as history tells us who we are and there is a compelling need to remember our heroes and use it as a national strength to fight for what we want and build resilience. We have been a great nation but we have forgotten that because we are not reminded about our past interventions”. MK/11/08/2020
By Mohamed Kabba