The Federal Government has released the official subjects to be taught under Nigeria’s revised Basic and Senior Secondary Education Curriculum, warning schools, parents, and the public to ignore fake lists currently circulating.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, said in a statement on Monday that the changes are part of the National Education Sector Reform Initiatives. According to the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Professor Salisu Shehu, the reforms aim to reduce workload on pupils and ensure better learning outcomes.
“We fervently call on all critical stakeholders to disregard any other fake and unauthentic list that is at variance with the authentic and approved list provided above,” the notice read.
NERDC added that implementation will begin at entry points of the school system, including Primary 1, Primary 4, JSS1, and SS1. The Council also confirmed that nationwide sensitisation and teacher training will start immediately to make sure schools are ready.
The new curriculum introduces changes such as Digital Literacy for upper primary pupils, Trade Subjects like Solar Installation, Fashion Design, and Livestock Farming at junior secondary level, and compulsory Digital Technologies and Citizenship Studies at senior secondary level. Pupils will now have options for vocational and skill-based subjects alongside core studies like English, Mathematics, and Science.
Professor Shehu said the reforms would make Nigerian education “more relevant, flexible, and skill-driven.”
But some parents and teachers have expressed worry. A secondary school teacher in Lagos said, “We were not carried along, and schools do not have the resources yet for some of these new subjects.” A parent in Abuja also complained, “They just dropped this on us. How will our children cope with the sudden changes?”
The Federal Government, however, insisted that the review had been carefully planned. The Ministry of Education stated that the goal was to make learners “future-ready” with skills useful beyond the classroom.
The official list confirms subject requirements across all levels of schooling. For example, pupils in Primary 1 to 3 will take between 9 and 10 subjects, including English, Mathematics, Nigerian Language, Basic Science, and either Christian or Islamic Religious Studies. At the senior secondary level, students must take five compulsory subjects: English, Mathematics, Digital Technologies, Citizenship and Heritage Studies, and one Trade subject, while other options are drawn from Science, Humanities, and Business.
The new curriculum will begin with the 2025/2026 academic session.
HERE IS THE FULL LIST:
PRIMARY SCHOOL SUBJECTS
Primary 1–3
Minimum: 9 subjects | Maximum: 10 subjects
English Studies
Mathematics
Nigerian Languages (One Nigerian Language)
Basic Science
Physical & Health Education
Christian Religious Studies (CRS) for Christian pupils / Islamic Studies (IS) for Muslim pupils
Nigerian History
Social and Citizenship Studies
Cultural & Creative Arts (CCA)
Arabic Language (Optional)
Primary 4–6
Minimum: 11 subjects | Maximum: 12 or 13 subjects
English Studies
Mathematics
Nigerian Languages (One Nigerian Language)
Basic Science and Technology
Physical & Health Education
Basic Digital Literacy
CRS (For Christian Pupils Only) / IS (For Muslim Pupils Only)
Nigerian History
Social and Citizenship Studies
Cultural & Creative Arts (CCA)
Pre-vocational Studies
French (Optional)
Arabic Language (Optional)
JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (JSS 1–3)
Minimum: 12 subjects | Maximum: 13 or 14 subjects
English Studies
Mathematics
Nigerian Languages (One Nigerian Language)
Intermediate Science
Physical & Health Education
Digital Technologies
CRS (For Christian Pupils Only) / IS (For Muslim Pupils Only)
Nigerian History
Social and Citizenship Studies
Cultural & Creative Arts (CCA)
Trade Subjects (Choose one):
Solar Photovoltaic Installation & Maintenance
Fashion Design & Garment Making
Livestock Farming
Beauty & Cosmetology
Computer Hardware & GSM Repairs
Business Studies
French (Optional)
Arabic Language (Optional)
SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL
5 Core and Compulsory Subjects
English Language
General Mathematics
One Trade Subject
Citizenship and Heritage Studies
Digital Technologies
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Agriculture
Further Mathematics
Physical Education
Health Education
Foods & Nutrition
Geography
Technical Drawing
Humanities
Nigerian History
Government
Christian Religious Studies
Islamic Studies
One Nigerian Language
French
Arabic
Visual Arts
Music
Literature in English
Home Management
Catering Craft
Business
Accounting
Commerce
Marketing
Economics
Trade Subjects (Choose one)
Solar Photovoltaic Installation & Maintenance
Fashion Design & Garment Making
Livestock Farming
Beauty & Cosmetology
Computer Hardware & GSM Repairs
Horticulture & Crop Production
