Teaching Civic Education to Learners through Best Practices

Abstract

This paper is a deliberate effort aiming at sensitising teachers, students, parents and other stakeholders on the basic objectives of civic education in its introduction into senior secondary school curriculum and the need to obtain full potentials for constructivist theory in teaching and learning of the relatively new subject. The introduction of civic education to Nigerian senior secondary school was directed at cultivating and developing in learners the skills and attitudes to function as relevant citizens of their society. The writer noted that the teaching of civic education in Nigeria is yet to achieve the purpose of which the subject was introduced. Among the objectives of civic education is to highlight the responsibilities of the government to the people and vice-versa and to also cultivate in students of senior secondary school their duties and obligations to the society. Curriculum experts have certain roles to play in integrating standard into curriculum by developing a curriculum framework. Onus of implementing civic education curriculum lies in the efforts and determination of qualified teachers, these categories of teachers are those who has chosen and are convinced that teaching is their calling, and are ready to serve their country in that capacity. The type of teaching expected from these teachers should help the students emerge with an understanding of their country’s history and most cherished values. This is to say that learning experience must allow the students to practically demonstrate what civic education has taught them in any situation.