Developing Leadership Capacity and National Consciousness in Children of Middle and Upper Basic Educational Levels in Okitipupa, Ondo State through Specialised Civic Awareness Learning

The challenge of nation-building in Nigeria continues to demand the attention of all stakeholders as it constantly threatens political stability and sustainable national development. In addition to its critical role of helping the learner to imbibe requisite civic dispositions, values and skills for peaceful coexistence in a more integrated nation, formal civic education at the Basic Educational levels is expected to create national consciousness, develop and reinforce leadership capacity of learners to establish a much more enduring foundation for sustainable national cohesion. This research examined how civic education at the Middle and Upper Basic Education level has been effective in the realization of the set objectives. Survey and experimentation methodologies were adopted while questionnaires, interviews and role-play were the instruments used for data collection. The study found that the leadership capacity and national consciousness development component of the current civic education among learners within this scope of study is extremely inadequate. This research proposes new learning content and integrated learning methodology in the development and deployment of “the specialised civic awareness learning content for M&UBE learners. The study recommends a review of the civic education curriculum content, training of personnel and adoption of integrated learning methodology.