Kabiru Haruna
The National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) has taken a major step toward improving senior secondary education in Nigeria with the unveiling of the Developed Minimum Standards for Senior Secondary Education and the official launch of an online Google-sponsored Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Pedagogy Training for 6,000 senior secondary school teachers. The event took place on February 25, 2025, at the Federal Ministry of Education Conference Hall, Abuja.
In his welcome address, Dr. Iyela Ajayi, the Executive Secretary of NSSEC, emphasized that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes education as a tool for national development. He highlighted the crucial role of education in fostering human capital development and ensuring equitable access to quality learning opportunities across the country.
The newly developed Minimum Standards for Senior Secondary Education provide a comprehensive framework that sets clear benchmarks for:
Curriculum and Learning Outcomes – Ensuring students acquire essential knowledge, skills, and competencies for higher education and the workforce.
Teacher Qualifications and Professional Development – Strengthening teacher capacity through continuous training and certification.
Infrastructure and Learning Environment – Establishing guidelines for adequate school facilities, laboratories, libraries, and ICT integration.
Quality Assurance and Assessment – Standardizing evaluation methods to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.
School Governance and Leadership – Promoting accountability, effective management, and community engagement in school administration.
Planning, Research, and Statistics – Providing data-driven strategies for educational improvement.
Dr. Ajayi noted that these standards address disparities in curriculum implementation, teaching quality, school infrastructure, and learning outcomes across states and schools. He called on state governments, school proprietors, and private sector stakeholders to support the implementation by investing in infrastructure, teacher training, and learner welfare.
A key highlight of the event was the flag-off of the Google-sponsored AI in Pedagogy Training for 6,000 senior secondary school teachers. The virtual training, supported by Data Science Nigeria and Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, will run for five weeks and is designed to enhance AI-based teaching skills among educators across Nigeria.
Dr. Ajayi emphasized that technology-driven learning is essential for modern education and that the initiative will empower teachers with AI tools to improve classroom delivery and student engagement.
Reaffirming NSSEC’s mandate to enforce the minimum standards, Dr. Ajayi stated that implementation would begin in the next academic session. He urged all stakeholders—including federal and state governments, private education providers, school administrators, teachers, parents, and students—to work together to ensure the success of these reforms.
“By implementing these minimum standards, we are taking a decisive step toward a brighter, more prosperous future for our learners and our nation,” he concluded.
With this initiative, NSSEC has set the stage for a transformative shift in Nigeria’s senior secondary education system, ensuring that students receive high-quality, future-ready education that meets both national and global standards.