The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to roll out a new school curriculum aimed at transforming education in the country.
Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, announced that the revised curriculum will take effect from October 2024.
This announcement was made following a federal executive council meeting led by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.
Mamman emphasized that the new curriculum is designed to tackle concerns regarding the behaviour and values of young Nigerians.
“There is a general concern about the behavior and conduct of our young ones in the country,” Mamman stated.
He noted that despite existing civic education programs in secondary schools, issues regarding national values persist.
“Civic education is compulsory in secondary schools. But we still have serious concerns about our national values,” he added.
The Minister explained that the new curriculum will cover both primary and secondary schools across Nigeria.
“Our students, when they graduate, will have skills that they can connect with the economy,” he said.
The curriculum overhaul seeks to prepare students not only academically but also socially and economically.
Education experts have long called for reforms to address the skills gap in Nigeria’s workforce.
The new curriculum aims to bridge this gap by ensuring students gain relevant skills.
Mamman also announced that the council approved a contract for constructing a new senate building for the University of Ibadan.
The university, established in 1948, will benefit from this new facility, which will house offices and support its management.
“The first Senate building is meant to accommodate tens of offices for the principal management of the university,” he explained.
In addition, Mamman spoke about the costs associated with conducting examinations by the National Examinations Council (NECO).
“Recently, NECO released the results of examinations it conducted for millions of Nigerians,” he said.
He confirmed that the council has approved the necessary funding for this process.
This announcement comes at a time when Nigeria is striving to improve its education system amid numerous challenges.
The current curriculum has faced criticism for being outdated and not aligned with modern workforce demands.
As the launch date approaches, stakeholders will be looking for clarity on how these changes will be implemented.
The success of the new curriculum will largely depend on proper execution and training for teachers.
Mamman assured that the government is committed to supporting educators in this transition.
“We will provide the necessary resources and training to ensure the effective implementation of the curriculum,” he promised.
