FG PLANS DIGITAL CURRICULUM FOR TEACHER TRAINING

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to introduce a comprehensive digital curriculum for teacher training across Nigeria’s colleges of education and universities, aimed at equipping educators with modern technological skills to meet 21st-century classroom demands.

Minister of Education, Prof. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during a strategic meeting with stakeholders on Friday, describing the initiative as a critical component of the Renewed Hope Agenda’s education transformation strategy. “We are moving teacher training from analogue to digital. 

The new curriculum will integrate ICT, e-learning methodologies, artificial intelligence tools, and data-driven teaching approaches,” Prof. Alausa stated.

The proposed digital curriculum will be piloted in selected institutions before full nationwide rollout from the 2027 academic session. It covers digital literacy, online pedagogy, virtual classroom management, educational software applications, and cybersecurity awareness for teachers. 

The programme also includes continuous professional development modules accessible via a national teacher portal.

The minister explained that the reform addresses gaps exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic when many teachers struggled with remote learning platforms. “Our teachers must be digitally competent to produce graduates who can compete globally. This curriculum will bridge the digital divide in our education system,” he added.

The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) will collaborate with tech partners to develop and standardise the content. Funding will come from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and international development partners.

Stakeholders have welcomed the move. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) described it as “long overdue,” while university lecturers pledged full support for implementation. Critics, however, called for adequate infrastructure, including reliable internet and devices in training institutions, to ensure success.

Education experts believe the digital curriculum will significantly improve teaching quality, enhance learning outcomes, and position Nigeria’s education sector for sustainable development in the digital age. The Federal Government urged all teacher training institutions to begin preparatory work for seamless adoption.