Nigeria adds journalism, coding to new secondary school curriculum

The Federal Government has introduced journalism, computer programming, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and fact-checking into the new secondary school curriculum, marking a historic shift in the nation’s education system.

The Senior Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, disclosed this in excerpts of the yet-to-be-released curriculum document, which he shared on Tuesday.

According to the document, journalism will now be embedded into the English Language module at the senior secondary school level, while programming will span both junior and senior classes.

Artificial intelligence and robotics, on the other hand, will form part of Digital Literacy at the senior secondary level.

The reforms, the government said, are designed to equip students with 21st-century skills while boosting their capacity for critical thinking, creativity, and innovation.

At the Junior Secondary School (JSS 1–3) level, the curriculum covers a wide range of subjects. Mathematics and Measurement will include numbers, fractions, percentages, geometry, algebra, and statistics.

English Language will focus on advanced grammar, comprehension, essay writing, debates, speeches, and drama. Integrated Science will bring together physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, earth sciences, and technology.

Digital Literacy and Coding will feature practical lessons in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet research, Python basics, Scratch, and robotics kits.

Students will also study languages, including advanced knowledge of their mother tongue and fluency in foreign languages such as French or Arabic.

Creative Arts will cover drawing, painting, crafts, theatre, film basics, and music. In addition, Physical and Health Education will emphasize sports, nutrition, reproductive health, first aid, and drug abuse awareness.

At the Senior Secondary School (SS 1–3) level, Mathematics will advance to include algebra, trigonometry, calculus basics, probability, and financial mathematics.

English and Communication will expand into academic writing, literary analysis, research skills, journalism, fact-checking, and public speaking.

The sciences will be strengthened with advanced physics, chemistry, biology, biotechnology, and environmental science. Technology and Innovation will focus on programming with Python, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS, as well as artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, data science, and digital entrepreneurship.

Social Sciences will include government, law, economics, philosophy, ethics, and African and world history.

Language studies will progress to literature in the mother tongue alongside fluency in French, Arabic, or Chinese. Creative Arts and Innovation will provide training in music, fine arts, drama, and film or media production.

Physical and Health Education will extend to advanced sports, mental health, CPR, and leadership training. Finally, students will undertake Research and Project Work in their final year, which will require data collection, analysis, and defense.

Education experts have welcomed the move, describing the overhaul as a bold step toward preparing Nigerian students for global competitiveness in the knowledge economy.

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