Reps call for immediate review of basic, secondary education curriculum

The House of Representatives on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to commence the process for the immediate review of the Federal Ministry of Education’s circular issued by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) on the approved subjects for Basic and Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria.

The resolution was passed after the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Deputy Majority Whip, Hon Ayokunle Isiaka, who highlighted the gaps in the approved subjects via a circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Education dated 8 September 2025 on the approved subject list categorised for Basic Education and Senior Secondary Education for various classes, which has been implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education.

Piqued by the development, the House tasked the Federal Ministry of Education to immediately review the educational curriculum for approved subjects for the newly revised Basic and Secondary Education to return and include Biology as a core and compulsory subject for the Senior Secondary educational curriculum.

According to him, “in the categorization, five compulsory subjects under the field of study for Senior Secondary Curriculum, including Biology which is the study of human body, all living things, plants and organisms, that from the inception of Secondary Education system in Nigeria had always been a compulsory core subject and very crucial for providing knowledge on human existence and all living things has been removed as a core and compulsory subject.

“The House is concerned that removal of Biology as a compulsory and core subject will cause significant harm to the educational standard of our students in their capacity to acquire knowledge that is universally acknowledged and to benefit themselves, society, and humanity at large.

“The House observes that biological and scientific experiments are being taught globally to educate students on protecting human existence and living organisms, this includes initiatives at the International Space Station and Missions to planets like the Moon and Mars, such as the Artemis II Mission, given these significant efforts, removing Biology as a compulsory subject from the Senior Secondary Educational Curriculum is deemed unbeneficial.

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“The House also observes that due to the numerous International, Economic, Scientific, Technological, GeoPolitical Activities and Treaties being undertaken by Nigeria, it will be of great advantage for the review and expansion of the Languages to include Spanish, German, Chinese and Russian languages under humanities to provide increase in the number of Interpreters which are presently very few or rear or even non-existent,” he noted.

In a bid to address the concerns, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Education, under the field of languages, to set up modalities and training efforts to recruit teachers vast in these subject areas for schools, especially at the Basic and Senior Secondary curriculum levels, to reduce the nation’s overdependence on foreign interpreters.

Subsequently, the House mandated the joint Committees on Basic Education and Services, Alternative Education and Basic Examination Bodies to immediately liaise with the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure compliance and report within four weeks for further legislative action.