Nigerian Government Publishes Approved Subjects for Basic and Senior Secondary Schools

September 9, 2025

The Nigerian Government has officially released the full list of approved subjects for the newly revised Basic and Senior Secondary Education Curriculum. The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).

According to the Council, the reforms were introduced under the Federal Ministry of Education’s National Education Sector Reform Initiatives (NESRI). The aim is to reduce subject overload for pupils and ensure positive learning outcomes across all levels of education in the country.

The notice, signed by Professor Salisu Shehu, Executive Secretary of NERDC, on September 8, 2025, confirmed that the new curriculum will be implemented gradually, beginning at the start of each 3-year education circle — Primary 1, Primary 4, JSS1, and SS1.

NERDC stressed that the reforms represent a new phase in Nigeria’s education sector by ensuring relevance, flexibility, and stronger skill acquisition from the earliest stages of learning. The Council also cautioned stakeholders to ignore any unofficial or fake lists of subjects being circulated, emphasizing that only the approved list should be followed.

Approved Subjects for Primary Education

For Primary 1–3, pupils will offer between 9 and 10 subjects, including:

English Studies
Mathematics
One Nigerian Language
Basic Science
Physical & Health Education
Christian Religious Studies (for Christian pupils) / Islamic Studies (for Muslim pupils)
Nigerian History
Social and Citizenship Studies
Cultural & Creative Arts (CCA)
Arabic Language (Optional)

For Primary 4–6, pupils are expected to take between 11 and 13 subjects. These include all the subjects from Primary 1–3, alongside Basic Science and Technology, Basic Digital Literacy, and Pre-vocational Studies. French and Arabic remain optional.

Approved Subjects for Junior Secondary School

At Junior Secondary (JSS1–3) level, students will take between 12 and 14 subjects. The compulsory ones include:

English Studies
Mathematics
One Nigerian Language
Intermediate Science
Physical & Health Education
Digital Technologies
CRS (for Christian Pupils) / IS (for Muslim Pupils)
Social and Citizenship Studies
Cultural & Creative Arts (CCA)

In addition, students must choose at least one Trade Subject such as:

Solar Photovoltaic Installation & Maintenance
Fashion Design & Garment Making
Livestock Farming
Beauty & Cosmetology
Computer Hardware & GSM Repairs
Business Studies

French and Arabic remain optional at this stage.

Approved Subjects for Senior Secondary School

At the Senior Secondary School (SSS1–SSS3) level, students are required to offer five core compulsory subjects:

English Language
General Mathematics
One Trade Subject
Citizenship and Heritage Studies
Digital Technologies

Students can then specialize in one of three groups — Science, Humanities, or Business.

For Science, subjects include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Agriculture, Further Mathematics, Physical Education, Health Education, Technical Drawing, and Foods & Nutrition.

For Humanities, options include Nigerian History, Government, CRS, IS, French, Arabic, Visual Arts, Music, Literature in English, and Home Management.

For Business, students may take Accounting, Commerce, Marketing, and Economics.

They are also expected to choose a Trade Subject, with options such as Solar Photovoltaic Installation, Livestock Farming, Fashion Design, Beauty & Cosmetology, GSM Repairs, and Horticulture & Crop Production.

What This Means for Nigerian Education

The Federal Government emphasized that the new curriculum will not only make learning less burdensome but also equip students with relevant skills for the modern world. With the inclusion of Digital Literacy, Pre-vocational Studies, and practical Trade Subjects, the reforms are designed to better prepare Nigerian students for both higher education and the workforce.

This step marks a shift from rote learning towards competency-based education, where young learners are exposed to digital tools, vocational training, and cultural heritage studies that connect education with real-life needs.