Victoria Mbangwa
The Federal Government has announced a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s basic and secondary education curricula, introducing new subject limits to curb overload and create space for deeper, more practical learning.
The reform, which affects primary, secondary, and technical schools, was carried out by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), UBEC, NSSEC, NBTE, and other stakeholders.
In a statement issued by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, said the revised framework marks a significant step toward reshaping Nigeria’s education system to align with contemporary realities.
“At the foundational level, pupils in Primary 1–3 will now take between 9 and 10 subjects, while those in Primary 4–6 will handle 10 to 12,” she explained. “For Junior Secondary, students will face 12–14 subjects, Senior Secondary students will be limited to 8–9, and technical schools will offer 9–11 subjects.”
The Ministry emphasized that the new structure will help reduce the pressure on learners, encourage mastery of subjects, and ensure that education translates into practical skills needed in today’s society.
The Ministry also praised the commitment of stakeholders and assured that strict monitoring will be put in place to guarantee smooth implementation across schools nationwide.
Professor Ahmad underscored that the reform reflects a deliberate effort to “move from quantity to quality” in Nigeria’s education system, making classrooms more focused, engaging, and impactful.
