The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) prepared by the National Universities Commission (NUC). ASUU, in a statement signed by its national president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed its concerns about the CCMAS, describing it as a nightmarish and a threat to quality university education in Nigeria.
According to ASUU, the NUC imposed 70% of the CCMAS contents on the Nigerian University System, leaving only 30% for university Senates, which are responsible for academic program development. The union criticized the process and content of the CCMAS, highlighting numerous shortcomings and gross inadequacies.
While acknowledging that the NUC has the mandate to set academic standards, ASUU emphasized that the process of generating these standards is equally important. It criticized the hazy procedures used by the NUC in developing the CCMAS documents, which cover 17 academic fields. Many university administrators, though dissatisfied, have refrained from publicly commenting on the CCMAS.
ASUU suggested an alternative approach, calling on the NUC to encourage universities to propose innovations for the review of their programs. It recommended a bottom-up approach where proposals from various universities would be reviewed and synthesized by expert teams to create or revise the existing curriculum standards.
In conclusion, ASUU expressed its opposition to the imposed CCMAS, highlighting its concerns about the erosion of the university Senate's powers and the potential negative impact on the quality of university education in Nigeria. The union proposed a collaborative approach that involves universities in the review and development of curriculum standards.
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