By Ayeni Omotayo Adewale | Fact Frontier.
Click here to read more about the reporter.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that a new secondary school curriculum will take effect from September 2025, introducing 15 vocational and technical subjects alongside the existing academic structure. The reform, part of the government’s push to modernize education, is designed to equip students with practical skills that prepare them for both higher education and immediate employability.
The subjects include plumbing and pipe fitting, tiling and floor finishing, event management, garment making, photography, digital literacy, solar works, refrigeration and air-conditioning, automobile repairs, carpentry and joinery, painting and decoration, poultry and fishery, leather works, catering craft, and electrical installation. Each student will be expected to choose at least two of these subjects in addition to the regular academic courses.
According to The Guardian, the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, said
the new curriculum was carefully designed to ensure that Nigerian secondary school graduates can contribute meaningfully to the economy.
He stressed that the government’s focus was to make schools “centres of creativity and skill development rather than just theory-based institutions.”
Similarly, Vanguard reported that the revised scheme draws inspiration from the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) model, but with strong emphasis on hands-on vocational learning. The report noted that senior secondary students would now graduate with both academic certificates and trade competencies, a move expected to reduce unemployment and dependence on white-collar jobs.
In addition, Channels Television highlighted that the initiative is in line with global education trends where practical skill acquisition is integrated into mainstream schooling. The station reported that the Ministry of Education partnered with stakeholders, including curriculum experts and industry leaders, to design a framework that responds to Nigeria’s socio-economic realities.
The impact of this reform is expected to be far-reaching. By exposing students to trades like solar installation and digital literacy, the policy could address the country’s shortage of skilled manpower in technology and renewable energy sectors. Subjects such as garment making, catering, and event management will create opportunities for entrepreneurship, encouraging young Nigerians to start small businesses even before graduating.
Experts also believe the reform could ease pressure on universities by giving students alternative career paths that do not necessarily require tertiary education. Furthermore, industries that often complain about the lack of adequately trained artisans may begin to find a pool of skilled workers directly from secondary schools.
While challenges such as adequate teacher training, infrastructure, and funding remain, education analysts have described the move as a bold step towards bridging the gap between academics and practical life. With the new curriculum beginning in September 2025, the coming academic session is set to mark a turning point in Nigeria’s secondary school education system.
