JOURNAL OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION · Vol. 15 · Issue 1 · July 2026

FUNCTIONAL PEDAGOGY: A TOOL IN PROMOTING VALUE FORMATION, VALUE RE-ORIENTATION AND CITIZENSHIP SKILLS AMONG $21^{ST}$ CENTURY LEARNERS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES

Stella Uchechukwu Okeke, Abigail Ojong Ejoh, Kekereawo Alaba Benjamin
University of Calabar
Volume
15
Issue
1
Month
July
Year
2026
Pages
356–366
Views
8

Abstract

Educational landscape of the 21st Century, is rapidly changing with unprecedented challenges. Educational system must not take only cognizance of students' achievements in schools but must also prioritize learners' value formation, value re-orientation and citizenship skills that are essential in fostering responsible, active and citizenship engagement. 21st Century educational settings globally and Nigeria in particular should also be addressing continuous moral decline, political and civic irresponsibility, apathy, decline in patriotism, social disintegration among other values neglected among the learners. Traditional pedagogical skills emphasize on rote learning, cognitive development and knowledge acquisition at the detriment of value formation of learners and development of citizenship skills such as critical thinking ability, problem solving ability, digital citizenship, civic engagement and participation, ethical and moral reasoning, cultural awareness, leadership and responsibility, integrity among others to live in the global competitive world. Functional pedagogy which emphasizes practical learning, critical thinking skills, problem solving ability, application of real world and also engagement in communities will foster positive values among the 21st century learners such as hard work, empathy, integrity, honesty, responsibility, tolerance and civic participation among others. Functional pedagogical approach will enable learners internalize societal norms and cultivate civic competencies in the 21st Century classroom. This work advocates the adoption and implementation of functional pedagogical strategies as an approach to promote value formation and value re-orientation; and development of citizenship skills among the 21st century learners.

Keywords

How to Cite

Stella Uchechukwu Okeke, Abigail Ojong Ejoh, Kekereawo Alaba Benjamin (2026). FUNCTIONAL PEDAGOGY: A TOOL IN PROMOTING VALUE FORMATION, VALUE RE-ORIENTATION AND CITIZENSHIP SKILLS AMONG $21^{ST}$ CENTURY LEARNERS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES. JOURNAL OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, 15(1), 356–366.

JOURNAL OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

JOURNAL OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

ISSN: 1118-0269

World Council for Curriculum and Instruction (WCCI) Nigerian Chapter