The Federal Government has unveiled a revised curriculum framework for primary, secondary, and technical schools, aimed at reducing subject overload and equipping Nigerian students with skills relevant to the modern world.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, in Abuja on Sunday, said the comprehensive review was carried out in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Universal Basic Education Commission, National Senior Secondary Education Commission, and the National Board for Technical Education.
According to Ahmad, the review goes beyond merely trimming down the number of subjects taught in schools.
“This is not just about reducing the number of subjects. The exercise focused on improving content delivery, ensuring deeper learning, and creating space for skills acquisition. The revised curricula will reduce overload and give students more learning time,” she said.
Under the new structure, pupils in Primary 1–3 will take between nine and 10 subjects, while those in Primary 4–6 will offer 10 to 12 subjects. For junior secondary schools, students may offer 12 to 14 subjects, while senior secondary school students will take eight to nine subjects. Technical school students are expected to take between nine and 11 subjects.
Ahmad emphasized that the goal is to align Nigeria’s education system with global standards.
“The changes reflect our commitment to providing quality, practical, and relevant education that prepares Nigerian learners for the challenges of today’s rapidly changing world,” she added.
The ministry assured that implementation of the revised curricula will be closely monitored to ensure smooth adoption nationwide. Although no specific rollout date was provided, the ministry confirmed that the changes will be phased in under the supervision of the relevant agencies.
It would be recalled that the Education Minister, Dr. Alausa, had earlier postponed the implementation of the new basic education curriculum to September 2025, after his predecessor, Prof. Tahir Mamman, initially announced a January 2025 commencement date. Under the plan, pupils are also expected to acquire at least two vocational or technical skills during their basic education.
The Federal Government praised stakeholders for their contributions to the review and reiterated its commitment to building an education system that produces “future-ready” citizens.