The Federal Government has announced a comprehensive review of the national curriculum to ease subject overload in schools and promote practical skills among learners.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Moruf Alausa, made the announcement in Abuja alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad. He explained that the policy followed consultations with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), WAEC, NECO, NBTE, NABTEB and other stakeholders.
Effective from the 2025/2026 academic session, subjects for primary and secondary classes will be reduced.
Subjects for Primary 1–3 have been reduced from 13–15 subjects to 9–10; Primary 4–6 reduced from 15–17 subjects to 11–13; SS 1–3 reduced from 15–18 subjects to 12–14; SSS 1–3 reduced from 15–20 subjects to 8–9.
The policy introduces Citizenship and Heritage Studies at the Senior Secondary level, while Nigerian History will now be compulsory from Primary 1 to JSS 3. Pupils will also study only one of the three major Nigerian languages—Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba.
For Basic 1–3, the approved subjects include English, Mathematics, one indigenous language, Basic Science and Technology, Physical and Health Education, Christian Religious Studies or Islamic Religious Studies, Nigerian History, Social and Citizenship Studies, Cultural and Creative Arts, with Arabic as an option.
At Basic 4–6, subjects such as Basic Digital Literacy and Pre-vocational Studies are introduced, while French and Arabic remain optional.
Junior Secondary students will study subjects including Integrated Science, Digital Technologies, Social and Citizenship Studies and a trade subject chosen from options such as Solar Installation, Fashion Design, Livestock Farming, Beauty and Cosmetology, GSM Repairs, and Crop Production.
For Senior Secondary, five subjects have been made compulsory—English, Mathematics, one trade subject, Citizenship and Heritage Studies, and Digital Technologies—alongside others to be chosen by students.
Dr. Alausa assured that the Ministry will work with parents, teachers and learners to ensure smooth implementation.
