The Anambra State Government has introduced 15 entrepreneurship-driven subjects into the Junior Secondary School (JSS) curriculum, marking a major shift toward practical, skill-based education designed to prepare students for the modern economy.
The newly introduced subjects include solar installation, garment making, GSM repairs, agriculture, plumbing, digital literacy, robotics, bakery, hairstyling, make-up, interior design, CCTV and intercom installation, and event management, among others.
According to the state government, the initiative is part of a broader strategy to align education with 21st-century demands by equipping students with hands-on skills that enhance employability, innovation, and entrepreneurship from an early age.
Speaking at the launch event in Awka, Chairperson of the Post-Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC), Professor Nkechi Ikediugwu, described the curriculum overhaul as a deliberate move away from purely theoretical learning toward value-driven education.
“The goal is to prepare learners not just to seek jobs, but to create value, generate employment, and contribute meaningfully to the economic development of the state,” she said, adding that education must go beyond examinations to foster creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial thinking.
Also speaking, Mr. Cyril Nwuche of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, stressed that traditional academic instruction alone is no longer sufficient in today’s rapidly changing world. He urged schools to embrace practical and skill-based learning to enable students to compete globally.
The reform builds on foundations laid in 2022 by Governor Charles Soludo, who appointed Professor Ikediugwu as PPSSC Chairperson and announced plans to transform 22 secondary schools into smart schools, with more to follow under the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) initiative.
Since then, the state has extended free education up to Senior Secondary School Year Three (SS3), recruited 3,115 additional teachers—bringing the total to 8,115—equipped 60 secondary school laboratories with STEM tools, and increased operational budgets to strengthen service delivery.
The introduction of vocational subjects addresses a long-standing reality where many young people leave school to acquire such skills informally through apprenticeships. By embedding them in the formal curriculum, the government aims to reduce dropout rates, retain students, and provide structured, certified pathways to early income generation and entrepreneurship.
While the state is yet to clarify staffing arrangements for the new subjects, officials say the reform aligns with efforts to curb out-of-school rates and build a competitive workforce. Governor Soludo recently noted that Anambra currently records one of the lowest out-of-school child rates in Nigeria.
Overall, the curriculum overhaul reflects the state’s commitment to education that prepares students for real-life opportunities—beyond certificates and examinations—and supports Anambra’s long-term economic development agenda.
