The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has announced that the new basic school curriculum will be implemented starting in January 2025.
During a meeting in Abuja, Mamman disclosed that pupils will be required to acquire at least two vocational skills, such as plumbing, tiling, hairstyling, POP installation, event decoration and management, bakery and confectionaries, make up, interior design, GSM repairs, satellite/TV antenna installation, CCTV installation and maintenance, garment making, agriculture and processing, basic digital literacy, IT and robotics and solar installation, as part of the new curriculum. Private primary schools are also mandated to adopt the changes, and an updated curriculum for secondary schools will be ready by September 2025.
The initiative, based on the National Skills Framework, aims to ensure that students graduate with practical skills, boosting their chances of securing employment and leading productive lives. Mamman emphasized that the curriculum will be mandatory for all schools, both public and private, and no institution can opt out.
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The new curriculum is designed to address the skills gap, particularly among young graduates, by equipping them with essential trades and digital literacy, such as IT and robotics. The ministry is currently working to prepare schools, including the acquisition of equipment and teachers’ training, in anticipation of full implementation in 2025.
Dr. Margret Lawani, Acting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, highlighted the variety of vocational skills that will be taught, spanning sectors like building and construction, hospitality, agriculture, and technology.
The minister added that these changes will encourage parents to send their children to school, as they will see immediate, practical benefits. The ongoing efforts are geared towards making education more relevant and appealing, with the ultimate goal of preparing students for both employment and entrepreneurship.
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