The Nigerian government, through the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC), has introduced the National Minimum Standards for Secondary Education, aimed at improving learning outcomes across the country.
The Commission has urged all state governments to implement the initiative within 12 months.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Iyela Ajayi, stated in Abuja that the agency is committed to reshaping the sector through standards enforcement, teacher development, digital expansion, and infrastructure upgrades.
“The National Minimum Standards establish benchmarks for all aspects of secondary education. They outline requirements for teacher numbers and qualifications, teacher–student ratios, and school infrastructure,” he said.
Dr Ajayi added, “The type and quality of buildings are clearly detailed in the minimum standards. We have distributed these standards to all states and given them 12 months to comply. The law establishing this Commission empowers us not only to produce minimum standards but also to enforce them.”
He stressed the importance of uniform standards to ensure students learn in a conducive environment, rather than in dilapidated structures, which are no longer acceptable.
The Commission is also intensifying efforts to improve teacher quality through continuous professional development, including training programmes for English and mathematics teachers and capacity building in AI-driven teaching methods for educators and school administrators.
NSSEC’s priority areas include ongoing teacher training, recruitment and retention of qualified teachers, digital learning and ICT integration, and large-scale infrastructure rehabilitation. Other focus areas include technical and vocational education, inclusive learning for girls and persons with disabilities, curriculum reforms emphasising practical skills, and improved school governance.
Regarding curriculum changes, Dr Ajayi highlighted NSSEC’s role in recent national adjustments, including the reintroduction of history, reduction of curriculum overload, and expansion of skill-based learning.
Despite financial constraints, the Commission has facilitated the upgrade of at least 50 senior secondary schools—one in each state—through constituency projects.
“These upgrades include new classrooms, laboratories, and ICT facilities. While we are not yet at the level of UBEC, the progress we have made is already changing the narrative,” he said.
Dr Ajayi also revealed that NSSEC is engaging telecom firms for subsidised broadband access in schools and working with development partners to provide 30,000 tablets for teachers nationwide.
Plans are also underway to make computer literacy compulsory for all students and to expand offerings in robotics, artificial intelligence and data science.