The National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) has urged all states to ensure complete implementation of the newly launched National Minimum Standards for Secondary Education within the stipulated 12-month deadline.
Executive Secretary of NSSEC, Dr. Iyela Ajayi, made the call in Abuja while speaking with journalists, noting that the standards—released in February—have been distributed nationwide and are expected to be fully adopted without delay.
Dr. Ajayi emphasized that the Minimum Standards provide a benchmark for teacher qualifications, teacher-student ratio, infrastructure adequacy, and learning conditions, stressing that the era of students learning under substandard conditions must end.
He said the Commission is empowered not only to develop but also enforce compliance with the standards.He explained that NSSEC is prioritizing teacher development through continuous training in English, Mathematics, and emerging technologies such as AI-driven teaching tools, targeted at educators and school administrators.
Speaking further, Dr. Ajayi listed the Commission’s key focus areas: recruitment and retention of qualified teachers, digital learning expansion, ICT integration, infrastructure rehabilitation, technical and vocational education, and inclusive learning for girls and students with disabilities.
He highlighted the Commission’s role in recent curriculum reforms, including the reintroduction of History, reduction of curriculum overload, and the strengthening of skill-based learning.Despite limited funding,
Dr. Ajayi noted that NSSEC has facilitated the upgrade of 50 senior secondary schools—one in each state—through constituency projects covering new classrooms, laboratories, and ICT facilities.
He said discussions are ongoing with telecom firms to secure subsidised broadband for schools and with development partners to procure 30,000 tablets for teachers.
According to him, plans are also underway to make computer literacy compulsory for all students and expand learning opportunities in robotics, artificial intelligence, and data science.
Reporting by Patience Olumati