ASSESSMENT OF CIVIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM AND INCULCATION OF NATIONALCONSCIOUSNESS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN KANO STATE

Abstract

National consciousness is an indispensable tool meant to create awareness and build well informed citizens. It
assists in building a virile, strong and united nation. Mostly, national consciousness promotes national unity,
patriotism, popular participation, sustainable development, peace, respect for diversity and national integration
in a multi ethnic nation like Nigeria. More so, most of the variables mentioned are acquired through the
learning of Civic Education. This study is born out of motivation to find out whether the Nigerian senior
secondary school civic curriculum addresses the significant topics identified as variables of national
consciousness and as such a research question was raised in this regard. The study, therefore, aimed at
examining the content of the Nigeria national value syllabus, a curriculum document that contains five school
subjects among which civic education is found, to ascertain whether it inculcates national consciousness or
otherwise. 250 SSS3 students in all the selected secondary schools in Kano were used to satisfy the quantitative
requirements of the study. Content analysis was explored in examining the civic syllabus for qualitative
requirements as well. Both quantitative and qualitative data established that the civic curriculum inculcates
national consciousness. However, it was revealed from the content analysis that there is no single topic on
history of Nigeria and leadership. Therefore, recommendation was that, any review of the civic curriculum
should have enough topics related to the history of Nigeria and its leadership. This would further assist in
knowledge about the nation and deepen the understanding of national issues in the learners.