Nigeria has approved sweeping reforms to its secondary school curriculum, introducing journalism, computer programming, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and fact-checking as part of a drive to modernise education.
Senior Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Social Media, Mr Dada Olusegun, shared excerpts of the yet-to-be-released document on Wednesday, detailing the scope of the overhaul.
According to the draft, journalism will now be incorporated into the English Language module at senior secondary level, while programming will be taught across both junior and senior classes. Artificial intelligence and robotics will be introduced under a newly created subject called Digital Literacy in senior schools.
The reforms, the document explained, are designed to prepare students with practical skills suited for a technology-driven world, while fostering critical thinking, creativity, and innovation.
From the first year of junior secondary school, students will gain hands-on exposure to coding and robotics kits, alongside training in Microsoft Office applications, internet research, and foundational Python programming. The updated English curriculum will place a stronger focus on advanced grammar, essay writing, debates, and drama, while integrated science will expand to cover earth sciences, ecology, and technology.
At senior level, the changes are even more ambitious. Students will study academic writing, journalism, fact-checking, and public speaking, while programming lessons will progress to JavaScript, HTML/CSS, and data science. AI and robotics will fall under a new Technology and Innovation stream, which also introduces cybersecurity and digital entrepreneurship.
The revised plan further mandates a final-year research project, requiring students to collect, analyse, and defend their findings, bringing secondary education closer to global academic standards.