The Nigerian Federal Government has introduced 15 new trades and skills into the basic school curriculum, according to The Guardian. These subjects will be mandatory for all public and private schools from Basic 3 to Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3, starting in January 2025. The new subjects cover areas such as Basic Digital Literacy, Building and Construction, Events Decoration and Management, Services, and Agriculture and Processing.
Some of the specific trades included in the curriculum are robotics, make-up, beekeeping, plumbing, and more. Dr. Margaret Lawan, acting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), confirmed the addition of these new subjects to provide students with practical skills relevant to current realities.
The Education Minister, Prof Tahir Mamman, emphasized that the revised curriculum aims to prepare Nigerian students for the challenges of the 21st century. The curriculum is aligned with the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) initiative, making it relevant and practical for the modern world.