The Implementation of the Creative Arts Curriculum in Secondary Schools in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper focuses on the status of the implementation of the creative arts curriculum at the secondary school level. The New National Policy on Education recognized the creative Arts as core subjects at the junior secondary school level, but at the senior secondary school level, they are optional. With very good laid down objectives, one had expected that the curriculum would be able to produce creative, patriotic and productive Nigerians who will contribute optimally to national development, rather what we have on ground is a far cry from expectation, due to the poor implementation of the programme. Creative Art practices in our secondary schools presently is relegated to subordinate position to other subjects. Parents, sort of encourage their children/wards to paying more attention to science based discipline. Creative art teachers on their own part are not able to perform to the optimum, due to extraneous factors militating against the full realization of the laid down objectives. It is hoped that the result of this study will redirect educational planners to effect positive changes in the implementation of the creative arts curriculum. Through survey of a number of schools, interview and questionnaires administered to both teachers and students, a number of problems of implementation were identified and possible solutions were proffered.