Infusion of creative thinking skills into Arabic curriculum in Nigerian higher institutions to enhance graduates employment

Adeniyi, Shittu Morufudeen

Abstract

This Paper discussed the inclusion of creative thinking skills into the existing Arabic curriculum in Nigeria_s tertiary institutions to provide more job opportunities for Arabic graduates. The study used a total population of 1350 students selected across universities and colleges of education in Yorubaland, Nigeria. Out of this population, 303 samples were finally drawn for the study. The research question of the study is to what extent Arabic curriculum content predicts employability skills of the graduates? The research hypotheses are: Arabic Curriculum content predicts creative thinking skills of the graduates in Nigeria, and b) R0: Arabic curriculum content does not predict creative thinking skills of the graduates in Nigeria. The Principal component analysis, Simple Regression Analysis, and other statistical tools were used for data analysis. The findings of the study show that there is a significant relationship between creative thinking skills and content of Arabic language. Moreover, Arabic curriculum content predicts creative thinking skills of Arabic graduates. Significantly, the study contributes to the field of Arabic studies by introducing creative thinking skills as an added advantage to Arabic graduates. This study proposed employability package that comprises of creative thinking skills to increase Arabic graduates_ chances to get lucrative jobs. The government must also ensure adhering the usage of the creative thinking skills in Arabic curriculum across all universities and colleges of educations offering Arabic language. Lastly, students of Arabic language must face challenges ahead of them and make themselves marketable to prospective employers just like their counterparts in other fields of study. Key words: Creative Thinking Skills; Arabic Curriculum; graduates; Employment.

References

Ahmad, T. S. (2011). Discussion method versus students’ competence in collaborative

learning: The role of Halaqah-study circle- in developing learners’ personality

traits and critical thinking skills. Lambert Academic Publishing: Germany.

Abubakre, R. D. (1988). Aspect of variation in Nigerian dialect. In Annals of Borno, Vol.

V, 185-196.

Abubakre, R. D. (2004). The interplay of Arabic and Yoruba cultures in south-western

Nigeria. Iwo, Nigeria: Darul-ilm.

Abdur Raheem Issa Awwal. (2009). Arabic language between the destruction of its

antagonist and safety of its life-bearer اللغةا لعربية بين تدمير خصومها وتعمير حماتها in

Arabic and Islamic Studies in Nigeria. Studies in Memory of Musa ‘Ali

Ajetumobi.

Ajape, K. O. (2014). Evaluation of Arabic language curriculum in selected universities in

Nigeria and its relevance to the National Policy of Education (NPE).

(Unpublished doctoral dissertation): International Islamic University Malaysia

(IIUM).

Amuni Abd-Qudus O. (1998) Arabic language in the modern world. Ikeja oace

publishing co.

Brand, B. (2003). Rigor and relevance: A new vision for career and technical education.

Washington, DC: America Youth Policy Forum.

Coakes, S. J., & Steed, L.G. (2003). SPSS analysis without anguish version 11 for

Windows. Australia: John Wiley and Sons.

Dacre Pool, L. & Sewell, P. (2007). The key to employability: developing a practical

model of graduate employability. Education + Training, 49 (4), 277-289.

Federal Republic of Nigeria (2007) Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard for

undergraduate programs in Nigeria Universities. NUC Abuja.

Federal Republic of Nigeria (2012) Minimum Standard for Academic Programs for NCE

in National Commissions for Colleges of Education (NCCE) Abuja.

Federal Republic of Nigeria. (1989). National Policy on Education. Lagos: Nigerian

Educational and Research D evelopment Council (NERDC).

Fafunwa, A.B (1984). History of education in Nigeria. London, Great Britain: George

Allen and Unwin Ltd.

Folorunsho, M. A. (2015). An examination of the problems confronting effective teaching

and learning of the Arabic language in Nigerian colleges of education. EProceeding of the 2nd International Conference on Arabic Studies and Islamic

Civilization, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Retrieved from

http://worldconferences.net/icasic2015.

Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (4th ed.). London:

Sage.Hamza, I. A. B. (2010). Teaching Arabic in Nigeria universities: The need

for Curriculum Re-Organization for quality assurance تعليما لعربي ةفي الجامعات

النيجيرية: الحاجة إليت قويم المنهجل ضمان الجودة in The Nigeria Association of Teacher

of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NATAIS). Tertiary Education Trust Fund

(TETFUND).

Harpaz, Y. (2005) Teaching and learning in a community of thinking. Journal of

curriculum and supervision, 20, 136-157.

Muhammed Yusuf. (2016). Ash-Shaykh Abdul Yekeen Adisa Mustapha as Hamzatu Li-

Wasli and Historic Personalty in Nigeria. Azzikir -Annual Magazines.

Otunuyi, A. K. T. (2006). Running NCE programmes in Arabic medium: Matters arising.

Religious Forum Academia (REFA): National Journal of Contemporary Issues

in Religions, Arts and Social Studies, 5(1), 66.

Rosnani Hashim., Saheed Ahmad Rufai., & Mohd Roslan Mohd Nor. (2011). Traditional

Islamic Education in Asia and Africa: A Comparative Study of Malaysia’s

Pondok, Indonesia’s Pesantren and Nigeria’s Traditional Madrasah. World

Journal of Islamic History and Civilization, 1(2), 94-107.

Sanni, A. O., & Muhibbu-Din, M. A. (Eds.). (2009). Transformation in Arabic and

Islamic studies in Nigeria. NATAIS, 453-468.

Sanni & CO (2012) MEMO dated 10th April, 2012 addressed to LASU Senate on

Rationalization of academic Programs: The case of Arabic and Islamic Studies

Yusuf, M.O. and Jamiu, A.I. (2013) Students’ and Teachers” perception about the

Teaching and Learning of Arabic Language in Nigerian Schools, in

International Journal of Research Education and Academic Development

(IJOREAD) ESRC, London UK.

Walker, T. (2005). Why there's a growing demand for linguists. Retrieved from

http://education.independent.co.uk/careers_advice /article325902.ece.