*15 New Skills Trade Introduced
*Senior Secondary New Curriculum For Implementation From Sept
The Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman on Monday disclosed that schools will begin implementation of the new basic curriculum from January 2025.
According to him, 15 new skills trade have been introduced in the new basic curriculum.
He spoke during meeting in Abuja with stakeholders for the implementation of the new basic curriculum.
The new curriculum, he said, would make students to acquire at least two skills at the end of their studies.
Prof Mamman said that private schools are also required to adopt the new basic curriculum.
The Minister also disclosed that work will begin on the new curriculum for secondary schools and its implemented would start by September 2025.
He said, “And the whole idea, as I said there, is that it is our position that by the time children finish school, they should have at least two skills. Students should be able to finish school with at least a minimum of two skills so that they can have a very productive life.
"The basis for the curriculum is the National Skills Framework, and it has been approved. It’s a very big project, it affects all schools in Nigeria, public and private.
"Whether in the public sector or private sector, all schools are going to implement it. So this is already determined. It doesn’t require anybody’s consent or any institution can depart from it.
“And then we want to use this school year to set off on this, while simultaneously the relevant agencies with the Ministry of Education work on the senior secondary school curriculum along the same line so that from September to October next year, the senior secondary school can be ready, as we are ready with this one, for implementation."
Speaking further on the basic curriculum, he said “Our projection is we should be able to conclude on this until December so that in January, schools across the country can now commence implementation.
"We do not expect comprehensive, full implementation from January. Because when you roll out something new, there’s a lot of preparation that has to take place by the schools, acquiring new things, equipment, you know, small, small things that they will need.” he stated
According to him, the ministry would meet with stakeholders in the private schools towards the successful implementation of the new curriculum.
Plans, he noted, are ongoing to ensure that teachers are well equipped for the new curriculum.
He said, “There is a need for the preparation of the classrooms and teachers’ development. We are also working on teachers’ support and development for them to be able to implement this.
"So we want to use the next three months for all these three stages.
“We’ll also do a national stakeholders engagement on publicity, particularly with the private schools.
"So that’s part of what we will be doing. And then teachers’ capacity, which is going to be ready”
The Minister also maintained that the new curriculum will rekindle and encourage parents and students to acquire formal education.
He said, “Some parents do not want to send their children to school. Right now, part of the problem why schooling has become unattractive is because people finish and there’s no change in their lives.
“They cannot be employed. They can’t do anything on their own. So parents question the value of why they are spending money to send their children to school.
“Now it’s going to change that game altogether. And we have seen how these things resonate with parents. When they are successfully implemented, you will see students will want to run to school every morning.
"Parents want to take their children to school because they are learning practical things while in school.” he noted.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo, said "This meeting as the Minister has said is a very important one. Without completing this curriculum, other sectors cannot move forward. We now have a clear roadmap."
He assured the Minister of the commitment of the directors and staff of the Ministry to ensure success of the new curriculum.
The Perm Sec also commended the media for their constructive reportage since he assumed office in the ministry.
The Director of Curriculum Development Centre, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, however noted that all efforts to have a new curriculum in the past 12 years had been fruitless.
He said, “It’s a very happy moment for Nigeria and for all of us. Because this is something that we’ve been wanting to have for the past 12 years.
"This will help train our children to be skill-oriented and to have the requisite kind of skills and training that’s globally competitive. And I bet to say that this curriculum will be among the best in Africa.
“It is also aligned with the STEM initiative. That is science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics and the disruptive technology aspect of it in terms of digital literacy has been captured greatly here. Which means then that our children are part and parcel of it.” he added
Copies of the newly approved curriculum were also presented to the media during the meeting.