The Nigerian government has introduced new practical skills and vocational subjects into the primary and junior secondary school curricula to boost student employability, according to Olusola Fatoba, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics, and Values.
Fatoba encouraged parents and students to embrace the initiative, highlighting it as a commitment from President Bola Tinubu to support students' futures by equipping them with valuable skills for the workforce.
The lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1, who spoke in a chat with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, however, called for the inclusion of a historical programme.
He said, “The Federal Government has taken a very valid step with the new skills and vocations. But I still call for the introduction of history in the curriculum for the pupils to know about their past to be able to project into the future.”
Fatoba said that the updated curriculum designed for primary and junior secondary school students, whose implementation would begin in January 2025, “aims to equip Nigerian students with modern skills like digital literacy, robotics, and various vocational and entrepreneurship opportunities.”
The lawmaker, who said that the new curriculum targets making students self-reliant, competitive, and aligned with global standards, said, “The government plans to finalize preparations over the next two to three months to ensure both private and public schools are ready.
“These preparations include teacher training, the development of instructional guides, and infrastructure improvements.”