On paper, this new curriculum looks like a bold step in the right direction but the big question remains, is Nigeria truly prepared for this?
The Federal Government recently announced the launch of a revamped national curriculum for secondary schools; junior and senior school students, introducing subjects such as journalism, programming, artificial intelligence, programming modules such as robotics & introductory Python, including fact-checking.
On paper, this looks like a bold step in the right direction. After all, the world is moving fast in becoming a global village and students need 21st-century skills to compete globally.
But the big question remains: is Nigeria truly prepared for this? Or will this new curriculum end up like many other government projects announced with excitement but won’t see the light of the day or be forgotten without real impact?
What should be in place for the new curriculum to work?
It’s not enough to add programming or artificial intelligence to the curriculum. Do we have professional teachers who can teach these subjects? Many Nigerian teachers are still struggling with operating a computer, not to mention understanding basic ICT skills. The government must organise intensive training programs for teachers across the country for effective transfer of knowledge and skills to the students.
A school without computers cannot teach programming or AI, not to think of robotics & Python. Many public schools across the country lack functional computers, computer labs, while most schools are often faced with power outages and no internet. The government must invest in modern computer labs, reliable electricity, and internet access in both urban and rural secondary schools to enable this new curriculum to thrive.
And so many other things that needs to be done, including up to date learning materials, partnerships with private sector and tech companies.
Right now, it’s hard to say FG is fully prepared. The idea of a revamped curriculum is brilliant, but the execution gap is a real concern. Without the right infrastructure, trained teachers, and steady monitoring, this project risks being another announcement that is dead on arrival.
