Edo State’s pioneering education reforms are making waves across Nigeria, as the Federal Government has unveiled a new secondary school curriculum that includes modern subjects like Journalism, Programming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, and Cybersecurity.
This landmark development follows Edo State’s bold moves to revamp its basic education system. Notably, Edo was the first state in Nigeria to mandate craft certification at the junior secondary level, setting a new standard in skills-based education.
Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, has championed several innovative policies aimed at improving learning outcomes and preparing students for the future. These include the mandatory entrepreneurship skills training for all JSS 3 students, re-use of textbooks, and a ban on elaborate graduation ceremonies.
Under these reforms, starting from the 2025/2026 academic session, all JSS 3 students in Edo will be required to complete entrepreneurship training before graduating. Upon completion, they will be awarded two certificates:
• The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), and
• A Skills Acquisition Certificate in a trade subject of their choice.
The Federal Ministry of Education has acknowledged the impact of Edo State’s model, emphasizing that digital literacy and basic entrepreneurship will now be compulsory for all junior secondary students across the country.
The new curriculum is not limited to junior students. At the senior secondary level, students will now have access to subjects in cutting-edge fields such as programming, AI, data science, and cybersecurity, alongside traditional academic courses.
In addition, coding and robotics will be introduced as foundational courses, aimed at fostering early exposure to tech-driven problem-solving and innovation.
Edo State’s forward-thinking approach is proving to be a catalyst for nationwide change, laying the groundwork for a more practical, skills-oriented education system that prepares Nigerian students for the demands of a global, digital economy.