Education Minister, Alausa
The Federal Government has delayed the rollout of the revised basic education curriculum, shifting its implementation to September 2025.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the decision at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, citing the need for adequate preparations, including teacher training and classroom setup.
The revised curriculum, initially scheduled for January 2025, was introduced under the leadership of former Education Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman.
However, logistical challenges had raised concerns about the feasibility of the original timeline.
A key feature of the new curriculum is the introduction of 12 years of uninterrupted basic education, which will result in the gradual phasing out of the Basic Education Certificate s weExamination (BECE), commonly known as ‘Junior WAEC.’
“We are now going through the final phase of preparations, including training teachers to implement the curriculum. The rollout will begin with new students’ enrollment in the September 2025 academic session,” Alausa stated.
He emphasized that the removal of BECE aims to ensure that students progress seamlessly from primary to secondary education without interruption, reducing dropout rates and enhancing learning outcomes.
“Currently, students take the Common Entrance Examination for Federal Unity Schools and the BECE before advancing to Senior Secondary School. The new system will allow for a smoother transition, ensuring students receive a more comprehensive education,” the minister explained.
Alausa also revealed plans to seek an increase in the allocation of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), proposing a rise from two per cent to five per cent.
This additional funding would support early childhood education, an area he described as critically underfunded.
