RE-ADAPTING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CURRICULUM TO THE LEARNING REALITIES OF GEN Z STUDENTS IN NIGERIAN HIGHER EDUCATION

Ugwu, Sabina Ogechukwu and Nwabueze, Ijeoma Nina (2026) RE-ADAPTING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CURRICULUM TO THE LEARNING REALITIES OF GEN Z STUDENTS IN NIGERIAN HIGHER EDUCATION. GOUNI INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, AND PEDAGOGY (GIJELP), 1 (1). pp. 131-146.

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Abstract

This study examined the extent to which the current English language curriculum in Nigerian institutions of higher learning reflects the learning realities of Gen Z students and assessed how digital literacy is integrated into the teaching and learning of English. Anchored on Communicative Competence Theory and New Literacies Theory, the study conceptualised language learning as a socially situated and digitally mediated practice. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised thirty-nine respondents made up of nineteen lecturers and twenty students from the Department of English, spanning 100–400 levels. Using a census sampling technique, data were collected through a structured questionnaire validated by experts and tested for reliability, yielding a Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of 0.81. Data were analysed using mean and standard deviation. Findings revealed that the English language curriculum only marginally reflects the learning realities of Gen Z students and is widely perceived as outdated and weakly connected to students’ lived academic and social experiences. The study further found that although digital resources enhance engagement, digital literacy is not formally or consistently embedded in the English curriculum. The results suggest that curricular conservatism and limited digital integration may shape perceptions of relevance and indirectly influence declining interest in English and Literary Studies. The study recommends curriculum reform, structured digital literacy integration, and institutional support for innovative pedagogical practices

Item Type: Article
Subjects: P Language and Literature > PE English
Divisions: Faculty of Arts > Faculty of Law > Faculty of Management and Social Sciences > Faculty of Education
Depositing User: Uchenna Eneogwe
Date Deposited: 01 Jun 2026 15:15
Last Modified: 01 Jun 2026 15:15
URI: http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5711

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