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ASSESSMENT OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE CURRENT M.ED. ADULT EDUCATION (COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION SERVICES) CURRICULUM OF UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI. EBIRERI Omovigho RaniUNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI, MAIDUGURI. DEPARTMENT OF CONTIUNING EDUCATION AND EXTENSION SERVICES. REGISTRATION NUMBER – 2-29814TZ, USER NAME 41986CU.P.O.BOX 5680: MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE.e-mail: omorae2001@yahoo.comTEL. NUMBER: 076-231971AbstractIt is a known fact that for every programme, the curriculum is vital aspect that cannot be ignored. This I believe is one of the main reasons why even the National Universities Commission included this Module on curriculum development into its VIHEP programme. This paper looked at an introduction to the topic, in which was included a brief description of the institution, faculty and department and the procedure for reviewing curriculum in the institution. The purposive sampling method of the non-probability sampling technique was used as the research methodology to ensure that only specific related courses where adopted for the study; the rationale for choosing the M.Ed. Adult Education (Community Development and Extension Services) was also given. The results of the study includes:I. There is the need to add certain topics to certain courses e.g. religious foundations of adult education to CEA701 (foundations of adult education) and computer analysis of data to CEA701 (statistical methods in education)II. There is the need to credit remedial courses taken by students without adult education background to their course units.III. The curriculum lacks much coverage in the aspect of extension services. IV. Apart from the practicum in community development, students of the course undertake, 6 months internship programme should be introduced to assist student gain more practical knowledge and their submissions at the end of the internship programme consisting of findings should be defended by the students and this submission and its defense should be made to replace the dissertation.V. More support should be given to the department. Albeit, the curriculum is still good enough.Recommendation were given also.Introduction The British Broadcasting Corporation, (BBC) English Dictionary; defined the term curriculum in a school, college or university as consisting of the different courses of study that are taught there. In light of this definition, Adaralegbe (1969) asked the question of what constitute a balanced curriculum programme for the individual in his social, political and economic context amidst various pressures for specialization. And to this regards, Moumouni (1968) and Caldwell (1969) rightly observed that “that the university always is reacting after the fact of changing knowledge and changing human relationships. The university is always running after reality ad never catching up. Somehow, this process must be reversed if the university is to be a fully – creative force in tomorrow’s world. The university of Maiduguri, is therefore, one of the federal universities in Nigeria established in 1975 and runs curriculum programmes in remedial, diplomas (consultancy) first degrees, masters degrees and doctoral degrees. The university is known as the centre of academic excellence and is headed by professor Jubrila D. Amin as its vice chancellor. While the school of postgraduate studies, which was established about 20 years ago, runs post graduate diploma programme, masters degree and doctoral degree programme in conjunction with various departments. The school of postgraduate studies is headed by Professor Abdulhamid Abubakar as the dean. The school of postgraduate studies coordinates all postgraduate programmes. Lastly, my department, which is the department of continuing education and extension services, runs a diploma programme (consultancy), first degree and masters degree in adult education. The masters programme on which I picked to write on its curriculum, has been run for more than the past ten years now without an accompanying PhD programme and that is why the current head of department in person of Dr. Saleh Joji along side with other doctors and professors such as Prof. Ayo Oni, Prof. Ayodele Fajonyomi and Dr. Y.Y Dibal have tried their best to ensure that the department starts a PhD programme in the next academic session of which their efforts have reached an advanced stage. The procedure for curriculum development in my institution is that, based on inputs/information received from society; the felt needs of the society and students; the department through a curriculum development committee draw out a proposed curriculum in line with NUC minimum standards, which is handed to the Head of Department (H.O.D) who then subject it to review by a team of experts in the field and then pass the proposed curriculum to the faculty/school who then go through it and pass it to the senate for approval and feed back to the department.Research Methodology The procedure for the selection of the curriculum that was assessed for strengths and weaknesses was the non-probability sampling in which the author, been interested in the describing specific features (strengths and weaknesses) of a defined population (M.Ed Adult Education Specialization in Community Development and Extension Services) accurately invested just a segment of it. Hence, he selected only those courses that most effectively served as representative value for the population under investigation. Thus, the purposive sampling in which only specific related courses were those adapted for the study.While, the rational for the selection of the M.Ed Adult Education (Community Development and Extension Services) was that, with the dynamic nature of adult education enterprise and subsequent emphasis on life long learning, the M.Ed Programme in adult education (community development and extension services) is designed to help practitioners (planners, administrators, supervisors and researchers develop professional competencies and to be able to assume greater professional responsibilities in their various places of work. Also, is that the degree programme provides opportunities for further education. Thus, in light of the assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the existing M.Ed Adult Education (Community Development and Extension Services) curriculum at the University of Maiduguri, the details is given below:a. Contents: The fact that the programme is designated into courses to which credit units based on contact hours and course codes allocated to each course is ok also the fact that the programme is run for a duration of a minimum of twelve (12) calendar months and not more than eighteen (18) months for full time students before being examined for the degree while pursuing the programme while part time students pursue the programme for a minimum duration of eighteen (18) months and not more than twenty four (24) months is still ok. The contents of the programme being divided into course work and dissertation in which the course work is divided into the foundation courses in adult education and taken in the first semester of the course work duration and courses in the area of specialization (community development and extension services) taken in the second semester of the course work duration is also ok and finally, the dissertation is also ok. Thus, the curriculum contents (courses) are discussed below in terms of their strengths and weaknesses:CEA700 (1 unit) Seminar in Adult Education On problems and issues in the area of specialization of students. (The strengths of this course are that it is related to the students area of specialization and exposes students to the challenges of speaking for their fields. While the weaknesses includes fear of condemnation and stage fright.CEA701 (3units) Foundation of Adult Education the strengths of this course includes laying a sound foundation about adult education for those without a foundation. As well as equipping all students with information for thoughts, while the weakness of this course is that it does not include the religious and moral foundations of adult education, which its inclusion will give students an overall foundation.CEA702 (3 units) Principles and Practice of Adult Education The major strength of this course is the fact that it exposes students to the theory and practice of adult education in Nigeria to engage in organizing and implementing adult education activities. While its weakness is that, the course topics/coverage must be necessarily broad. CEA703 (3units) Research Design the strength of this course lies in its being a pre-requisite for dissertation writing and exposing students to the techniques of dissertation writing. The weakness of this course is that there might not be enough time to adequately cover the course as needed.CEA704 (3 units) Statistical Methods in Education The strengths of this course is that it equips students with appropriate statistical techniques and methods for analyzing data for research works such as dissertation, while its limitation is in failing to include computer analysis of data such as the prophet’s stat guide on the internet. CEA799 (10 units) Dissertation in which students submit a research dissertation on a topic approved by the university postgraduate school. The strength of this course is in exposing students to writing and defending what they have written and adding to publication list of students while its limitation includes its cost, Phobia and not based on an internship project built on knowledge gained.CEA717 (3units) Theory and Practice of Community Development the strengths are in exposing students to the principles/theory and practice of community development while its weakness is that issues learnt in this course may not applicable to every community.CEA718 (3units) Sociological Approaches to Community Problems The strengths in this course is in exposing students to have the knowledge of interacting with the community while its weakness is in universality of application of what is learnt.CEA719 (3 units) Community Education and Problems of Rural Development The strengths of the topics in this course is in exposing students to the realities of community problems, education and development as well as it enables students to effectively execute their practicum in community development. Its weakness is that timing to include visits for the course may be a limitation.CEA720 (3 units) Rehabilitation Programme for Disabled, Aged and Unemployed Adults The strengths of this course is in the aspect of exposing students to rehabilitation of individuals who need rehabilitation while its weakness is in the use of rehabilitation centres as resources for the teaching and learning of this course as most of the rehabilitation centres in this state are now in a state of decay from observation.CEA721 (3 units) Practicum in Community Development Candidates initiates community projects, ensure their implementation and submit comprehensive reports. The strengths of this course lies in its exposure of students specializing in this field to the rigours and realities of the practice of community development while its weakness lies in its inherent cost and being labour intensive.Finally, candidates without any background in adult education may be required to take relevant courses where necessary. Candidate may however, not be credited with the number of remedial course units except on the recommendation of the senate board of the postgraduate studies. This I must say is bad. Students are also required to take a minimum of 35 units and a maximum of 41 units of course work including a dissertation of 10 units.Objectives of the M.Ed Adult Education (Community Development and Extension Services) Curriculum Strengths: It advances the knowledge and skills of adult education practitioners as well as produce needed adult education man power in the private and public sectors in the country finally, it promotes adult learners exposure to research techniques and approaches on adult education for the advancement of the field.Weakness: Does not bring about self-reliance of the graduates. Activities in the M.Ed Adult Education (Community Development and Extension Services) Curriculum Strengths: Seminar in adult education exposes students to the challenges of speaking for their fields while its weakness fear of condemnation and stage fright. Practicum Candidates initiates community projects, ensure their implementation and submit comprehensive reports. The strengths of this course lies in its exposure of students specializing in this field to the rigours and realities of the practice of community development while its weakness lies in its inherent cost and being labour intensive.Dissertation In which students submit a research dissertation on a topic approved by the university postgraduate school. The strength of this course is in exposing students to writing and defending what they have written and adding to publication list of students while its limitation includes its cost, Phobia and not based on an internship project built on knowledge gained.Evaluation Procedure in the M.Ed Adult Education (Community Development and Extension Services) CurriculumStrengths: it involves continuous assessment, which takes 30%, and examination, which takes 70% of the total scores in course work, thus, reducing fear of failure. In addition, the lack of resit examination makes students more serious next is that the involvement of an external examiner reduces or control victimization of students and control quality of examination. Weaknesses: The evaluation of the dissertation is expensive and time consuming. Resources that Promotes the Teaching/Learning of the M.Ed Adult Education (Community Development and Extension Services) CurriculumStrengths: It includes resource persons (Lecturers I & II), Text Books, Journals and other Publications, the Internet and videocassette documentaries they also promote learning and teaching.Weakness: There are expensive and hard to come by.Potential for Producing a Graduate with 21st Century Skills Strengths: Prepares students academically to face the challenges posed by modern educational and societal needs unfortunately the programme does not include potentials for rising information technology usage.ResultsVI. There is the need to add certain topics to certain courses e.g. religious foundations of adult education to CEA701 (foundations of adult education) and computer analysis of data to CEA701 (statistical methods in education)VII. There is the need to credit remedial courses taken by students without adult education background to their course units.VIII. The curriculum lacks much coverage in the aspect of extension services. IX. Apart from the practicum in community development, students of the course undertake, 6 months internship programme should be introduced to assist student gain more practical knowledge and their submissions at the end of the internship programme consisting of findings should be defended by the students and this submission and its defense should be made to replace the dissertation.X. More support should be given to the department. XI. Albeit, the curriculum is still good enough.Discussion of Results (as mentioned above)The inclusion of religious foundations of adult education into the foundation of adult education will equip students of the course to speak out in the religious front that God (Allah) permitted and wants everyone educated. Verses from the Bible and Quran are necessary to be included to support this topic. While the inclusion of computer analysis of data into statistical method in education, will both motivate students and promote accuracy of data analysis.Secondly, the crediting of remedial courses for students without background in the field will not only motivate them to perform better, but enhance their understanding of the main course. Thirdly, there should be much more coverage of the aspects of extension services into the programme to promote students diversification into other major and related areas such as Agricultural Extension.Next is that the findings reported in IV of results (internship programme) if implemented will speed up students graduation in the M.Ed Programme as students completing their dissertation has become a course of concern in this university. Lastly, the introduction of a PhD. Programme for Community Development and Extension Services will help to provide more needed manpower in the field. Finally, I wish to commend the efforts of all those who joined hands together to put the current curriculum in place. For I must say it is very good. Recommendations a. The Department: Should introduce religious and moral foundations of adult education into CEA701 (Foundations of Adult Education) and computer analysis of data into CEA704 (Statistical Methods in Education). Secondly, it should expand the contents of extension services into the curriculum. Thirdly, it should introduce an internship programme which submission and defense would replace the dissertation. Fourth, it should seek for more support from the faculty/senate and relent in her present efforts. Lastly, remedial courses for students without a background in the field should be credited with the units.b. The University of Maiduguri It should give administrative support to the department including funding next is that it should expedite action on the approval of the department’s PhD. Programme. c. The National Universities Commission (NUC) it should provide more funding to the department through the institution and work more closely with the department/institution for its growth and development.Conclusion I wish to commend the efforts of the executive secretary of the NUC in person of Prof. Peter Okebukola and his NUCVIHEP’s hard working team for putting up such a wonderful programme. I must confess that this module is great.References:Adaralegbe, A. (1969): In the preface of A philosophy of Nigerian Education. Heinemann Educational Books (Nigeria) Limited IbadanBritish Broadcasting Corporation (1992) BBC English Dictionary: A Dictionary for the World. Rex Charles and Patrick Ltd. in association with Africana FEP Publishers Ltd., Onitsha Nigeria.Caldwell, J. O. (1969): As quoted by Cookey, S. J. (1969): In a key Note address “on the need to review the purpose of education in present day Nigeria” presented at the National Curriculum Conference of 8 to 12 September 1969.Moumouni, A. (1968): Education in Africa, Praeger. University of Maiduguri, School of Post-Graduate Studies (2000): General regulations governing Post-Graduate Programmes. Gaza Printing Press Maiduguri.University of Maiduguri, Department of Continuing Education and Extension Services 2001/2002 M.Ed. Adult Education Prospectus.