By Gabriel Ameh
The Federal Ministry of Education has released detailed clarification in response to widespread enquiries from students, parents, school owners, and administrators concerning subject selection under the revised Senior Secondary School Curriculum. The guidance follows rising public concerns and multiple misinterpretations circulating across various platforms.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, FAMedS, CON, and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Sa’id Suwaiba Ahmad, emphasized that no subject within the approved Senior Secondary School Curriculum is restricted or excluded from student selection. They stated that all subjects remain fully accessible, provided choices are made with proper guidance from school authorities, parents, or certified counsellors.
The Ministers explained that the curriculum is designed to be flexible, student-centred, and supportive of a wide range of academic interests and career pathways. Accordingly, science students may select subjects in the arts or social sciences, just as arts and social science students may choose subjects traditionally classified under the sciences, as long as such choices align with their academic goals and available support systems.
Addressing concerns about the subject formerly known as Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the Ministry clarified that it has been renamed Digital Technology. The change, they noted, is strictly a matter of nomenclature and does not affect the curriculum content. Students who previously offered ICT remain fully eligible to register and sit for Digital Technology in the ongoing WAEC registration and subsequent examinations.
On Trade Subjects, the Ministry reaffirmed that six trade subjects have been identified and approved under the curriculum. Students may register for any of the six, provided the school offers the subject and the student has been taught it. However, students who have not been exposed to any trade subject are not required to register for one as a third subject.
The Ministry reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth, inclusive, and properly guided implementation of the revised Senior Secondary School Curriculum across the country. It urged parents, counsellors, school proprietors, and examination bodies to rely on verified information and offer accurate guidance to students as WAEC registration progresses.
The Ministry will continue to ensure seamless, coordinated, and student-friendly registration processes nationwide.
Folasade Boriowo
Director, Press and Public Relations
