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Basic education’s new curriculum begins Jan 2025

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

The Federal Government has announced that the new curriculum for basic education would commence across all schools in Nigeria in January 2025.

Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, noted at a stakeholders’ meeting on the implementation of the new curriculum in Abuja, yesterday, that the new curriculum for senior secondary education would also commence by September 2025.

He said the new curriculum would address the problems of learning crises and employability.

According to him, the new skills acquisition to be introduced would have multiplier effects by equipping students with 21st century skills.

“In the last one year, we have worked with stakeholders to develop a skills framework that will inject skills right from the later part of basic education to secondary education.

“The whole idea is that, by the time children finish, they should have a minimum of two skills so that they can have a productive life,’’ he said.

The Minister said the meeting was conveyed to discuss the modality, and as well, tidy some aspects of the curriculum, while also giving a timeline for implementation, support, monitoring and evaluation.

He said the next three months would be used for the preparatory stage, including preparing teachers’ guide in using the curriculum.

When asked about the difference between the new scheme and the 6:3:3:4 system of education that also infused skills, he said the problem was the inability to implement the policy.

“The major justification for what we have done has been the inability to implement the 6:3:3:4 system from inception.

“The minimum academic standard of 1993 shows a reason for 6:3:3:4 and the Act outlined clearly the learning trajectory of schools in Nigeria.

“It was envisaged that by the time learners finished basic education, they would have acquired skills. Unfortunately, we departed from it,’’ he said.

The acting Executive Secretary, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Dr. Margaret Lawan, confirmed that 15 different trades/skills were newly introduced to basic education.

She listed the subjects under basic digital literacy to include Information Technology, Robotics and others, while Building and Construction has subjects like Plumbing, Tiling, Floor works and POP Installation.

For hospitality and leisure, subjects include Events Decoration and Management, Bakery and Confectionery, Hair Styling, Make-up and Inner Design; even as services consisted of the following subjects: GSM Repairs, Satellite/TV antenna/CCTV/Intercom Installation and Maintenance, Solar Installation and Maintenance and Garment Making.

There was also Agriculture and Processing which consists of Crop Production, Bee Keeping, Horticulture Production, Sheep and Goat Farming, Poultry and Rabbit Farming.

The Director of Curriculum, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Dr. Garba Gandu, said the new curriculum would provide prerequisite skills and training for global competitiveness.

He said the curriculum is competency and digital based, as it also aligned with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and (STEAM) Methods.

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