The Federal Government has introduced 15 new trades into the curriculum for Basic Education in Nigeria, aimed at boosting the skills and employability of graduates from primary and junior secondary schools.

The implementation of the new Basic Education curriculum will take effect in January 2025.

Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, announced this on Monday during a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja.

He revealed that the curriculum was approved with a set timeline for implementation, alongside the National Skills Framework, by the National Council on Education (NCE) last Thursday.

Mamman also disclosed that progress is being made on the development of the new Senior Secondary Education Curriculum, which will be ready for implementation in September 2025.

He noted that the stakeholders’ meeting was convened to discuss and finalize the modalities for the seamless implementation, support, monitoring, and evaluation of the new Basic Education curriculum.

According to him, the government will use the next three months to fine-tune the arrangements to ensure that both private and public schools fully implement the curriculum starting in January next year.

This includes the training of teachers, the development of teacher guides, and improvements to infrastructure, among other preparations.

He explained that the curriculum was designed to equip Nigerian children with 21st-century skills, enabling them not only to become self-reliant but also to become employers and contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.

He emphasized that the old curriculum, in use since 2012, had become outdated. The new curriculum, once implemented, would make graduates from Nigerian schools globally competitive.

Regarding the newly introduced subjects, the Minister highlighted that Basic Digital Literacy, which includes IT and Robotics, had been added to the regular subjects.

“For Vocational and Entrepreneurship Studies, or trades, we have different sectors comprising various trades. For instance, in the Building and Construction Industry, we have plumbing, tiling, and floor works, as well as POP installation.

“In Hospitality and Leisure, we offer Event Decoration and Management, as well as Bakery and Confectioneries. We also have Hairstyling, Makeup, and Interior Design. In the Services sector, we have GSM repairs, satellite or TV antenna installation, CCTV, intercom installation and maintenance, and Solar Installation and Maintenance.

“We also have Garment Making and Agriculture and Processing, which includes crop production, beekeeping, horticulture, sheep and goat farming, as well as poultry and rabbit farming. Altogether, we have about 15 new trades introduced for Basic Education,” he explained.

The Minister stated that school children would be exposed to all the occupational subjects, but ultimately, they would be able to choose one or two entrepreneurship trades to graduate with.

The new curriculum is designed to integrate knowledge, skills, and values, with a particular focus on skills. This ensures that students graduate with practical skills that they can connect to the economy, leading to a productive life.