By Dansu Peter The Federal Government has announced that the implementation of the revised basic education curriculum will commence in Sep...
By Dansu Peter
This development comes as the government plans to phase out the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), commonly known as ‘Junior WAEC,’ in line with the introduction of a compulsory 12-year uninterrupted basic education program.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the disclosure at a press conference on Friday in Abuja, explaining that the next seven months will be dedicated to preparing teachers, developing instructional materials, and upgrading classroom infrastructure to support the new curriculum.
The revised curriculum, initially set for January 2025 under former Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman, was postponed following a leadership change in the ministry. Dr. Alausa, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu after Mamman’s removal, emphasized that the delay was necessary to ensure a seamless rollout.
Speaking on the new structure, Dr. Alausa confirmed that BECE will be discontinued to allow a smooth transition from primary to senior secondary school. The proposal, he noted, will be presented to the National Council on Education for final approval later this year.
“Currently, students write the Common Entrance Examination to gain admission into Federal Unity Schools, while BECE serves as an exit exam from Junior Secondary School to Senior Secondary School. With this reform, BECE will be phased out, and students will progress seamlessly from Primary Six through Junior and Senior Secondary School,” Alausa stated.
He explained that the move aims to reduce school dropout rates at the junior secondary level and ensure that students receive a more comprehensive education before entering the workforce or higher institutions.
The overhauled curriculum will introduce 15 vocational skills, including beekeeping, tiling, solar installation, and phone repairs, alongside traditional subjects. The government believes this will equip students with practical skills for self-employment and job creation.
In addition, Dr. Alausa revealed ongoing discussions with President Tinubu to increase the Universal Basic Education Commission’s (UBEC) funding from two percent to five percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
“We plan to allocate one percent of this increase to Early Childhood Care and Development Education, ensuring proper funding for pre-primary education, which has been largely neglected,” he added.
The Federal Government is currently consulting with key stakeholders to finalize the details of the policy before full implementation in the 2025/2026 academic session.
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