In collaboration with International Federation of Election System (IFES) the Council developed a Voter Education Handbook (VEH) for the Nigeria school system as well as for the general Nigerian public. The Handbook is to serve as a useful resource for teachers of relevant disciplines as well as to educate the average Nigerian on electoral issues. The VEH was developed with funds from the Austrian government and has been distributed nationwide.

Translation of Pension Documents into Readable English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba

The Council organized a workshop to translate Pension Documents into readable English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba for better understanding of the new Pension Law. The National Pension Commission sponsored the workshop is on-going in Lagos from the 24^th – 30^th July, 2005.

The Council is planning for the following with preliminary activities being underway:

i. The National Dialogue for the “Strategic Plan for Education

   Development (SPED) which is scheduled for September 2005;

ii. National Round Table for the Eradication of Poor Quality

   Textbooks in Schools. This activity is scheduled for August

   2005 and will involve, UBEC, NTI, NUC, NCCE, NMEC, NCNE,

   States Ministry of Education, Professional Associations, etc.

iii. Technical Meeting for drafting a National Book Policy

    involving the following stakeholders UBEC, NMEC, NCCE,

    NCNE, NTI, NUC, Teacher Associations, Professional

    Associations, Publishers, States Ministry of Education.

iv. The Review of 12 Curricula in the following subjects:

a. Health Education

b. Physical Education

c. Christian Religious Studies

d. Islamic Religious Knowledge

e. Citizenship Education

f. French

g. Fine Arts

h. Hausa

i. Igbo

j. Computer Education

k. Arabic Studies

l. Local Crafts

In addition, the Council will also develop two new curricula in Computer Education and Citizenship Education in Lagos and Kano in August 2005.

The Nigerian Education Abstract

Apart from establishing and maintaining a Research and Development Library, one of the critical mandates of NERDC is:

“Periodic Compilation and Publication of a list of Completed Research Projects”

Publication of Volume I

In furtherance of this obligation, Volume I of the Nigerian Education Abstract which was derived from completed research projects is in press. The Publication will be launched very soon.

Compilation of Volume II

NERDC is about to compile Volume II of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Abstract from a list of completed research projects. Critical stakeholders like Universities, Colleges of Education, Polytechnics, Research Institute, Parastatals, State Ministries of Education, etc. have been sent letters requesting them to forward 3 copies of completed projects to be included in the forthcoming publication. A call for submission of 3 copies of completed projects is to be placed in 2 major Nigerian Newspapers soon.

Convocation of the Network of National Service Centres in Nigeria (NESCN)

Council is delighted to announce the convocation of the 2005 NESCN meeting of ERC Directors and State Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State from August 30^th – 2^nd September, 2005. Ebonyi State government is co-sponsoring with NERDC, while attendance of all members would be supported by state ERCs, SME and SUBEBs.

The objectives of the two-day meeting are to:

i.   integrate state ERCs into our new vision and mission;

ii.  discuss Reform Initiatives in the area of Curriculum,

    Language, Book quality assurance, informatics, innovative

    research techniques, and include Educational Resource

    Centres to key into this;

iii. interact on emerging issues such as the use of work Centres

    FLHE, ECE, SMASSE, IRI;

iv. identify gaps in policy implementation and task definition of

    NERDC in concert with ERCs;

v. address NERDC’s support for ERCs in teacher mentoring and

    instructional materials development;

vi. map out a Strategic Work Plan for all ERCs on school

    workshops and critical mass of learning resources

Printing of the Primary Family Life and HIV/AIDS Education (FLHE)

UNICEF is funding the printing of 10,000 copies table version of Primary FLHE Curriculum. In addition, National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) will print the underlisted copies of the curriculum:

a. 30,000 copies of the Teacher-Friendly Version for the Lower

    Primary level;

b. 30,000 copies of the Teacher-Friendly Version for the Upper

    Primary level;

c. 10,000 copies of the Table Version of Hausa Primary FLHE

    Curriculum;

d. 5,000 copies of Table Version of Igbo Primary FLHE;

e. 7,500 copies of Table Version of Yoruba Primary FLHE

    Curriculum

Primary of the JSS FLHE Curriculum

NACA is also funding the printing of 9,000 copies of Table-Version of the Curriculum.

Maintaining of Peace and Conflict Prevention into Formal and Non-Formal Education in Nigeria.

The NERDC in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education has developed a strategic work plan to mainstream conflict prevention into pre-tertiary and non-formal education in Nigeria.

Gender Sensitivity in Curriculum Reform

Currently, UNESCO is supporting Teacher Education enrichment programme while the NERDC is part of the implementing agencies. The Local Organizing Committee meetings of critical stakeholders have been led. The aim is to ensure equity in access to education through curriculum provision and offerings. This goal derives from such facts – that the current school curriculum is devoid of gender equity, that language and illustrations is text books and instructions expose gender bias and stereotype, and that the current situation impacts negatively on school enrichment, environment and attendance.

Renovation of Council’s Conference Centres in Abuja and Lagos.

Fencing of Council Headquarters at Sheda, Abuja.