The federal government, through the Ministry of Education, has launched the new minimum standards for the senior secondary education in Nigeria, which was developed by the National Secondary School Education Commission (NSSEC).
Launching the document on Tuesday – earlier today, February 25 – in Abuja, the FCT, to signal the commencement of a major transformation of the secondary education system in Nigeria, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who was represented by Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, the Director Basic & Secondary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, also flagged-off an online Google-sponsored Artificial Intelligence (AI) in pedagogy training of 6,000 senior secondary school teachers.
In his remarks, the minister, who acknowledged the technological revolution being driven by Al in the modern era, noted that, “Al is no longer a futuristic concept but a present-day reality, transforming industries, economies, and societies, hence as educators, we must embrace this evolution and ensure our education sector is not left behind.”
“The integration of Al into pedagogy offers an unprecedented opportunity to enhance learning experiences, personalize education, and develop critical thinking skills among our students. Our goal is to prepare them for careers in a technology-driven world, where Al literacy will be as fundamental as reading and writing,” he said.
According to the minister, the newly launched document, which was developed by NSSEC through extensive collaboration with stakeholders, and approved by the National Council on Education (NCE), will serve as a guiding framework to ensure that senior secondary education across Nigeria adheres to high-quality standards.
“It is our blueprint for ensuring consistency, accountability, and measurable improvement in our education sector. Our commitment to reforming the education sector includes initiatives such as curriculum modernization, teacher training programmes, and infrastructural development.
“We are also working towards expanding access to digital resources in schools and fostering partnerships with technology firms to bridge the gap between traditional teaching methods and contemporary innovations,” Alausa stressed.
Executive Secretary, NSSEC, Dr. Iyela Ajayi, in his remarks, described the document as a strategic response to the challenges and gaps identified in the senior secondary education sub-sector.
“Over the years, we have observed disparities in curriculum implementation, teaching quality, school infrastructure, and learners outcomes across different states and schools. These inconsistencies have contributed to an uneven access to quality education, limiting the potential of many learners.
“With these newly developed standards, we now have a comprehensive framework that sets clear benchmarks for learning content, teacher qualification, school facilities, learners assessment, and governance in all senior secondary schools across Nigeria.
“This initiative aligns with global best practices and national policies aimed at ensuring that every child receives a high-quality education, regardless of location or socio-economic background,” he said.
The new document addresses critical areas that are fundamental to quality education, including curriculum and learning outcomes; teacher qualification and professional development; infrastructure and learning environment; quality assurance through a robust monitoring and evaluation; school governance and leadership; planning, research and statistics, among others, Ajayi emphasized.
Mohammed Salihu, Head of Teacher Development and International Partnership, NSSEC, provided insights into the training programme, explaining that AI has the potential to revolutionize teaching and learning.
He disclosed that each state provided 130 teachers, while Federal Government Colleges (FGCs) provided 11 teachers to participate in the first phase of the training.
“AI creates a personalized, data-driven, and accessible learning environment. It enhances student engagement, supports teachers, automates tasks, and ensures equitable education for all,” he explained, pointing out that the training will be delivered in five modules and will provide teachers with essential AI skills, enabling them to incorporate technology into their classrooms and improve learning outcomes.
