The Federal Government (FG) has disclosed its plans to introduce vocational skills such as plumbing, hairstyling, GSM repairs and other skills into the new curriculum for basic schools which will take effect from January 2025.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman to journalists during a meeting with stakeholders, adding that an updated curriculum for secondary schools would be ready by September 2025.
He said, “The idea is that by the time children finish school, they should have at least two skills. Students should be able to finish school with 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.
“Our projection is we should be able to conclude on this by December so that in January, schools across the country can commence implementation.”
Regarding the implementation of the new curriculum, “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, and small things that they will need.”
He noted that the new curriculum would inspire parents and students to obtain formal education.
According to him, “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 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.”