Rhoda Odigboh, Head of Africa Programs at Kikazi and renowned education consultant, has articulated an innovative curriculum framework poised to transform educational practices.
Her insights were shared during a thought-provoking webinar organized by Yinka Ogunde, CEO of Edumark Consult, on August 30, 2024.
The event, themed “Pathway for the Education Industry in the 2024/25 Academic Year,” attracted over 400 participants, including school owners, educators, and stakeholders worldwide.
Odigboh commenced by elucidating the critical role of the curriculum as the foundational blueprint upon which educational institutions build their teaching strategies.
“A curriculum serves as a guiding framework for teachers and schools, empowering them to deliver quality education that enables students to achieve their academic objectives,” she stated.
She emphasized that the curriculum design dictates the educational experiences within classrooms and ultimately reflects on the caliber of students graduating from schools.
Central to her presentation were the “Four Es,” a framework Odigboh proposes as essential for crafting a well-structured curriculum. These elements, she argued, are pivotal in preparing students for the evolving job market, marked by technological advancements and global shifts.
The first E, Entrepreneurship, was highlighted as vital for creating economic opportunities and reducing unemployment. Odigboh explained,
“Nobody knows what the new job areas will be in the future, given the dramatic changes engendered by technology. We must be conscious of what the future world looks like.” She advocated for incorporating project-based learning, real-world business challenges, and financial literacy into the curriculum to foster innovative thinking and problem-solving.
“This begins from the classroom. Problem-based learning should be alive in the classroom. It is not limited to science subjects. Even teaching English comprehension could be project-based. Everything around the students is a comprehension passage,” she noted.
Additionally, she emphasized the importance of integrating parents’ careers into classroom teachings.
The second E, Employability Skills, was underscored as essential in a competitive job market.
“Schools must ensure that students are equipped with employability skills that enhance adaptability,” Odigboh remarked.
She urged schools to focus on developing critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills necessary for workforce success.
“Every lesson requires peer-to-peer collaboration and brainstorming. This helps amplify students’ voices and translate them into action,” she added.
Odigbah further discussed Emotional and Social Intelligence as the third E, crucial for fostering a competent and leadership-ready workforce. She encouraged schools to teach self-awareness, empathy, and relationship management.
“Schools should equip students with strategies to manage their emotions, stress, and conflict. This helps them build resilience,” she explained. She also highlighted the importance of nurturing a mindset that embraces challenges, learns from criticism, and views effort as the path to mastery, thereby fostering lifelong learning and adaptability.
Finally, the fourth E, Empowerment and Civic Engagement, was identified as a means to instill a sense of responsibility and leadership in students.
Odigbah concluded by stating, “To incorporate this into the curriculum, schools should encourage students’ active participation in community and civic life. This will foster a sense of responsibility and leadership.”
Rhoda Odigboh’s visionary framework for a school curriculum, centered around the Four Es, offers a strategic pathway for educational reform, aligning curricular goals with the demands of a rapidly changing world. Her insights provide a roadmap for educators seeking to equip students not only for academic success but also for meaningful contributions to society and the workforce.