THE Federal Government has officially released the newly approved subject offerings for Nigeria’s Basic and Senior Secondary Education Curriculum, in a move designed to cut down subject overload, strengthen vocational and digital skills, and prepare learners for global competitiveness.
The announcement came on Tuesday in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education made available to News Point Nigeria, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, explained that the reforms followed extensive consultations with key education stakeholders, including the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), WAEC, NECO, NBTE, NABTEB, and curriculum experts.
The revised curriculum marks the first major overhaul in years, reflecting the Federal Government’s September 1 declaration that it had completed a comprehensive review of basic, senior secondary, and technical education curricula to make Nigerian learners “future-ready.”
Primary 1–3 pupils will now take 9–10 subjects, which include:
English Studies
Mathematics
One Nigerian Language
Basic Science
Physical and Health Education
Nigerian History
Social and Citizenship Studies
Cultural and Creative Arts
Christian Religious Studies or Islamic Studies (Arabic remains optional)
Primary 4–6 pupils will offer 11–13 subjects, with the inclusion of:
Basic Digital Literacy
Pre-Vocational Studies
French (optional)
At the Junior Secondary School (JSS 1–3) level, students will now take 12–14 subjects, featuring:
Digital Technologies
Business Studies
A compulsory trade subject
Trade options include:
Solar Photovoltaic Installation
Fashion Design
Livestock Farming
Beauty and Cosmetology
Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs
Horticulture
For Senior Secondary Schools, five core subjects are now compulsory:
English Language
General Mathematics
One Trade Subject
Citizenship and Heritage Studies
Digital Technologies
Beyond the core, students can choose electives across:
Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agricultural Science)
Humanities (Government, Literature, History, Geography)
Business (Accounting, Commerce, Economics)
Technical/Creative Arts (Visual Arts, Music, Catering Craft, Horticulture, Woodwork, Applied Electricity, etc.)
According to the Ministry, the reforms are targeted at reducing subject overload, addressing skills gaps, and aligning Nigeria’s education system with international best practices.
Minister Alausa said: “This curriculum is not just about cutting down subjects. It is about equipping Nigerian children with skills that are relevant to the 21st century. From digital literacy to vocational training, we are future-proofing education.”
Minister of State Ahmad added that the reforms would also strengthen national identity through subjects like Citizenship and Heritage Studies, while ensuring that Nigerian students remain globally competitive.
The Ministry said the rollout would be phased, with teachers receiving capacity-building programs to handle the new subjects, especially in digital and vocational areas.