The Federal Government has completed a comprehensive review of the national curriculum for basic, senior secondary, and technical education, aimed at reducing subject overload, improving learning outcomes, and equipping Nigerian students with skills relevant to global demands.
The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad, on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, in a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education.
Prof Ahmad explained that the review was carried out in collaboration with key agencies, including the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC), and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Details of the revised curriculum
Under the new framework:
- Primary 1–3 pupils will now take between 9 and 10 subjects.
- Primary 4–6 pupils will take 10 to 12 subjects.
- Junior Secondary School students will take 12 to 14 subjects.
- Senior Secondary School students will take 8 to 9 subjects.
- Technical school students will take 9 to 11 subjects.
“The review process was not only about streamlining subjects but also about improving content to allow for deeper learning,” Ahmad said, adding that the goal is to reduce workload, create more learning time, and deliver education that is practical and future-ready.
Commitment to implementation
The Ministry assured that the revised curricula will be rolled out nationwide with strict monitoring to ensure smooth adoption and effective transition in schools. It also commended stakeholders for their teamwork and commitment to producing a stronger, future-focused curriculum for Nigerian learners.
Background
Nigeria’s last major curriculum review was in 2011. In 2024, then-Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman announced that a new secondary school curriculum would take effect by September of that year, after 12 years without an update.
Reform efforts have since gathered pace. In January 2025, government introduced 15 new trade subjects—such as plumbing, event management, solar installation, garment making, agriculture, and digital literacy—into the basic education curriculum.
At the National Council of Education meeting in February 2025, the Minister of Education also proposed a shift from the 9-3-4 structure to a 12-year basic education model, to align Nigeria more closely with global standards.
However, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has raised concerns, insisting that poor funding remains the real challenge in education. NUT President Audu Amba warned that without adequate financing, issues such as poor infrastructure, shortage of materials, and recurring strikes would persist—regardless of whether the structure is 6-3-3-4, 9-3-3, or 12-4.