The Federal Government has announced that under the new curriculum for Basic and Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria, every student will be required to graduate with at least two skills. The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, revealed this during the 68th National Council on Education (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
He explained that the new curriculum aims to integrate knowledge, skills, and values at both education levels, particularly emphasising skills. This approach ensures students can engage with the economy and lead productive lives after graduation. The meeting’s theme was “Innovation, Digital Technology Entrepreneurship: Tools for Educational and National Development in the 21st Century.”
He explained that the country currently faces a shared challenge: the risk of its educational curriculum becoming outdated due to technological disruptions across all industries, including education. He emphasised that a well-designed and practical curriculum is crucial for sustainable development, educational quality, and relevance. This is why the current administration prioritises the institutionalisation of curriculum development within the broader education framework.
Reasons for This Decision
According to him, the ministry is implementing the President’s Education Transformation Agenda, which aims to comprehensively reform the education sector to ensure quality learning, skill development, access, and equity.
Professor Mamman reaffirmed the government’s primary responsibility to provide inclusive, equitable, and quality education at all levels for all learners. He also stated that the government is committed to upholding international protocols, conventions, and treaties that protect learners, teachers, and educational institutions from harm, ensuring these standards are upheld domestically.
In his welcome address, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Sununu, emphasised that for any nation to achieve growth, it must adopt a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital technology. He highlighted the importance of aligning the educational system with societal needs and aspirations to address the challenges brought by technological advancements.
Sununu stressed the need to infuse fresh and relevant ideas into the education system to foster national development, stating that education at all levels must undergo renewal to keep pace with global trends.
Additionally, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Muntari Mohammed, underscored the importance of incorporating digital literacy into the curriculum, assuring that their leadership is committed to ensuring stability in the education sector.
