Starting January 2025, vocational skills like plumbing, hairstyling, and solar installation will be added to the primary school curriculum in Nigeria.
This new educational system aims to equip pupils with practical skills, requiring them to learn at least two trades as part of their education.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Dr. Margret Lawani, shared this update during a stakeholder meeting in Abuja on Monday.
She explained that the new subjects fall under the vocational and entrepreneurship studies framework, designed to expose pupils to various trades from different sectors.
Lawani highlighted some of the key skills pupils will learn, saying, “For the building and construction industry, we have plumbing, tiling, flooring, and POP installation. In the hospitality and leisure sector, pupils will be trained in event decoration and management.”
She also mentioned that other skills include hairstyling, makeup, interior design, and bakery and confectionery. Pupils will also gain knowledge in areas like GSM repairs, CCTV and satellite installations, intercom maintenance, and solar photovoltaic installation.
In agriculture, the curriculum will cover beekeeping, horticulture, poultry farming, and more. “This sector covers crop production, beekeeping, horticulture, sheep and goat farming, as well as poultry and rabbit farming. Altogether, we have about 15 different trades or skills newly introduced for basic education,” Lawani added.
Additionally, digital literacy will be a key part of the new curriculum. “We are introducing basic digital literacy, including IT, robotics, and more,” she stated.
The new system aims to provide young students with a blend of academic knowledge and practical skills, preparing them for diverse career paths from an early age.
