Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) has released the approved subject list for the revised curriculum in basic and secondary schools.
Gatekeepers News reports that the announcement comes after excerpts from an unreleased draft document had circulated online, showing modules such as artificial intelligence, journalism, fact-checking, cybersecurity, and programming.
The council urged the public to disregard all versions of the curriculum that did not originate from it. In a communique signed by Salisu Shehu, the council’s executive secretary, NERDC explained that making the official list public was necessary to counter the unauthentic versions.
It also noted that a nationwide sensitisation exercise and teacher training sessions have been lined up to ensure effective implementation of the new framework.
NERDC clarified that the revised curriculum will be introduced gradually, beginning with the first year of every three-year education cycle. This means it will take effect in Primary 1, Primary 4, JSS 1, and SS 1 as the updated curricula for those levels are unveiled.
The approved subject structure covers all stages of schooling. Pupils in Primary 1 to 3 will take nine to ten subjects, including English Studies, Mathematics, Nigerian Languages, Basic Science, Physical and Health Education, Nigerian History, Social and Citizenship Studies, Cultural and Creative Arts, and optional Arabic Language.
From Primary 4 to 6, pupils are expected to take a minimum of 11 subjects, with new additions such as Basic Digital Literacy, Pre-vocational Studies, and optional French.
For Junior Secondary School, students will take between 12 and 14 subjects. These include English, Mathematics, Nigerian Languages, Intermediate Science, Digital Technologies, Social and Citizenship Studies, Cultural and Creative Arts, Business Studies, as well as one trade subject such as solar installation, fashion design, farming, cosmetology, or GSM/computer hardware repairs. French and Arabic remain optional.
At the Senior Secondary level, all students must offer five core subjects: English Language, General Mathematics, Citizenship and Heritage Studies, one trade subject, and Digital Technologies. In addition, students can choose from Science, Humanities, or Business subjects. These include options such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Government, Literature, Accounting, Economics, Music, Visual Arts, Catering, and Technical Drawing.
