2025/2026 Academic Session: FG Releases Subjects For Basic, Secondary Schools

By Akinwale Kasali

A few days to the resumption of the 2025/2026 Academic Session nationwide, the Federal Government has released the approved subject – offerings for Nigeria’s Newly Revised Basic and Senior Secondary Education Curriculum.

The FG has, also,   warned stakeholders against fake versions in circulation.

In a press statement released by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, the Agency said: “We fervently call on all critical stakeholders to disregard any other fake and unauthentic list that is at variance with the authentic and approved list provided above.”

NERDC said that the reforms, undertaken by the Federal Ministry of Education, FME, under its National Education Sector Reform Initiatives, NESRI, are designed to reduce overload and ensure “positive learning outcomes” for pupils across the country.

Prof. Salisu Shehu, Executive Secretary of NERDC, appended his signature on the notice dated 8th September 2025, confirming that implementation will begin at the start of each 3-year Education Circle (Primary 1, Primary 4, JSS1, and SS1).

NERDC also cautioned against misinformation, declaring: “nationwide sensitization and teacher capacity building have been slated to commence immediately for effective implementation.”

It assured that the reforms mark a new phase in Nigeria’s education sector, ensuring relevance, flexibility, and skill acquisition from the earliest stages of learning.

Underlisted, the approved subjects for both Basic and Secondary Schools.

PRIMARY SCHOOL SUBJECTS

Primary 1–3

Minimum: 9 subjects | Maximum: 10 subjects

• English Studies
• Mathematics
• Nigerian Languages (One Nigerian Language)
• Basic Science
• Physical & ●Health Education

□Christian Religious Studies (CRS) for Christian pupils / ●Islamic Studies (IS) for Muslim pupils

• Nigerian History.
• Social and Citizenship Studies.
• Cultural & Creative Arts (CCA).
• Arabic Language (Optional).

For Primary 4–6

Minimum: 11 subjects | Maximum: 12 or 13 subjects

• English Studies, □Mathematics, ●Nigerian Languages (One Nigerian Language).
• Basic Science and Technology, ●Physical & Health Education, ●Basic Digital Literacy
• CRS (For Christian Pupils Only) / IS (For ●Muslim Pupils Only).
• Nigerian History, Social and Citizenship Studies
• Cultural & Creative Arts (CCA), ●Pre-vocational Studies.
• French (Optional) and Arabic Language (Optional)

JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (JSS 1–3)

Minimum: 12 subjects | Maximum: 13 or 14 subjects

• English Studies, ●Mathematics, ●Nigerian Languages (One Nigerian Language), ●Intermediate Science
• Physical & ●Health Education, Digital Technologies, CRS (For Christian Pupils Only) / IS (For Muslim Pupils Only).

• Nigerian History, Social and Citizenship Studies.
• Cultural & Creative Arts (CCA)
• Trade Subjects (Choose one):Solar Photovoltaic Installation & Maintenance, ●Fashion Design & Garment Making
• Livestock Farming
• Beauty & Cosmetology, Computer Hardware & GSM Repairs.
• Horticulture & Crop Production, Business Studies, French (Optional), Arabic Language (Optional).

FOR SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

5 Core and Compulsory Subjects that include:

• English Language, ●General Mathematics
• One Trade Subject Citizenship and Heritage Studies ●Digital Technologies Science
• Biology, ●Chemistry, ●Physics, ●Agriculture, ●Further Mathematics, ●Physical Education
• Health Education
• Foods & Nutrition, Geography.
• Technical Drawing ●Humanities, ●Nigerian History ●Government ●Christian Religious Studies, Islamic Studies.

□One Nigerian Language;

• French, Arabic, Visual Arts
• Music
• Literature in English
• Home Management ●Catering Craft, ●Business ●Accounting ●Commerce ●Marketing, ●Economics

Trade Subjects (Choose one)

• Solar Photovoltaic Installation & Maintenance, ●Fashion Design & Garment Making
• Livestock ●Farming,

Beauty & Cosmetology, ●Computer Hardware & GSM Repairs

• Horticulture & Crop Production.

This development has however led to brickbats between the FG and Stakeholders, but the FG has remain defiant,  insisting that the implementation of the new curriculum for basic, secondary, and technical education will begin with the 2025/2026 academic session.

• Solar Photovoltaic Installation & Maintenance, ●Fashion Design & Garment Making
• Livestock Farming, Beauty & Cosmetology, ●Computer Hardware & GSM Repairs
• Horticulture & Crop Production.

This development has led to brickbats between the FG and Stakeholders, but the FG remains defiant,  insisting that the implementation of the new curriculum for basic, secondary, and technical education will begin with the 2025/2026 academic session.