The Burden of the Old System
For decades, Nigerian pupils and students have been weighed down by an overloaded curriculum. At its worst, learners carried as many as 15 to 20 subjects per term, leaving them exhausted but under-skilled. The outcome was a generation more drilled in memorization than in understanding, more burdened with content than equipped with skills. It was clear that the system valued quantity over quality.
The federal fovernment’s recent decision to overhaul the curriculum—announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, and the Minister of State, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad—is therefore a bold and commendable intervention. It represents a fresh start, one that Nigeria’s children have long deserved.
A Lighter Load, a Stronger Focus
The most immediate change is the reduction in subject load:
- Primary 1–3: now 9–10 subjects, down from 13–15.
- Primary 4–6: 11–13, instead of 15–17.
- Junior Secondary (JSS 1–3): 12–14, reduced from 15–18.
- Senior Secondary (SSS 1–3): 8–9, instead of 15–20.
This trimming of excess is more than administrative housekeeping. It is a deliberate strategy to give learners the space to focus, absorb, and apply what they are taught. Less clutter, more clarity; lighter loads, stronger minds.
What the New Curriculum Offers
The reform is not only about fewer subjects—it is about better, smarter ones. Among the highlights:
History Restored: Nigerian History is now compulsory from Primary 1 through JSS 3, ensuring every child grows up grounded in national identity.
Civic Renewal: Senior Secondary students will study Citizenship & Heritage Studies (CHS), an integrated subject that merges History, Civic Education, and Social Studies into one civic-learning framework.
Digital Literacy: From Primary through SSS, learners will now take Basic Digital Literacy and Digital Technologies, preparing them for a world that is increasingly tech-driven.
Cultural Strength: Students must study one Nigerian language—Hausa, Igbo, or Yoruba—cementing linguistic and cultural roots.
Practical Skills: Trade and vocational options are no longer afterthoughts. At JSS, students can choose from Solar PV Installation, Fashion Design, Livestock Farming, Beauty & Cosmetology, GSM Repairs, and Crop Production. At SSS, one trade subject becomes compulsory, bringing practical, income-generating skills into mainstream education.
Aligned with Global Standards
The reform is backed by Nigeria’s major education stakeholders. WAEC and NECO are aligning their examination offerings with the new subject structure. NABTEB has revamped 28 trade subjects for technical colleges, ensuring consistency with industry needs. The simplified Senior Secondary framework requires every student to take five core subjects—English, Mathematics, Digital Technologies, Citizenship & Heritage Studies, and a trade subject—while specializing in Sciences, Humanities, or Business.
This alignment not only harmonizes Nigeria’s education system but also places it closer to global best practices, where depth, skills, and critical thinking matter more than rote memorization.
Why Schools Must Act Now
The federal government has provided the framework, rationale, and assurance. Effective from the 2025/26 academic year, the ministry promises support for parents, teachers, and students to ease the transition. But implementation will determine whether this bold reform succeeds or fails.
Schools—both public and private—must not delay. Teachers will need retraining; timetables will need restructuring; parents must be sensitized. The temptation to carry on with “business as usual” must be resisted. Delay will rob our children of the relief and opportunities this reform was designed to give them.
A Call to Action
Nigeria has, at last, a curriculum that is lighter, smarter, and sharper—one that balances academics with identity, culture, digital literacy, and vocational skills. The Federal Government has done its part by laying the foundation. The responsibility now rests on schools to build on it.
This is not a reform for tomorrow. It is a reform for now. Schools must act immediately, because a smarter, stronger generation depends on it.
Below is the breakdown of the new curriculum
