The Ministry of Education, led by Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, unveiled a revised National Policy on Education in late 2025. The goal was to ensure every Nigerian child has access to digital learning, vocational training and equal education opportunities by 2030.

A Ministry press release on September 3, 2025, outlined the reforms, which began in the 2025-2026 academic session.

The changes include adding trade-focused subjects, aligning national exams like WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB, and updating the 2011 curriculum to meet current skill and technology demands.

In 2026, progress is expected to be uneven. Education funding has increased to 6.1% of the national budget, yet more than 18 million children are still out of school, showing the challenge of turning policy into results.

To make sense of these reforms, Techeconomy reviewed government reports, education forums, and global benchmarks to identify the initiatives that could affect students and teachers the most in 2026

Here’s what to watch out for in 2026:

1. Digital Transformation in Learning

Technology is now at the heart of Nigeria’s education reforms. Coding and ICT are compulsory from primary through senior secondary levels, ensuring students develop digital skills early.

The Ministry of Education has launched tools like the National e-Learning Portal and the “Inspire” platform to support both students and teachers. Partnerships with companies like AWS through the Amazon Academy Project are introducing cloud computing, machine learning, and other in-demand skills.

Artificial intelligence is also part of the plan. During the 2025 International Day of Education, the Ministry signalled its intention to integrate AI into teaching and learning, aiming to improve learning outcomes, especially in rural areas.

These initiatives are designed to create a more resilient system that reduces learning gaps and better prepares students for future careers.

2. Curriculum Change

The new curriculum focuses on practical, skills-based education. Subject loads have been reduced, and priority is given to trades, entrepreneurship, STEMM, and civic education.

The NERDC now requires every student to learn a skill through initiatives like TVET programs and Student Venture Capital Grants supporting young innovators.

The 2026 Nigeria Teachers’ Summit, scheduled for January 27–28, will focus on equipping educators with the digital and pedagogical skills needed to implement these reforms. The summit will also launch the Edurevamp Online Teacher Professional Development Portal to support teacher growth and innovation.

3. Examination Integrity Reforms

Examination malpractice has long undermined public trust. In January 2026, the Ministry announced measures to strengthen integrity in WAEC, NECO, and other exams.

Key initiatives include:

• Full migration to computer-based testing (CBT)
• Enhanced question randomisation and serialisation
• Improved biometric verification and candidate IDs
• Introduction of the Examination Learner Identity Number (ELIN) to track exam participation

These steps aim to ensure fairness, restore confidence, and encourage schools to strengthen continuous assessment programs.

4. TETFund Interventions

Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, especially polytechnics, are receiving a major boost through TETFund. Funding is aimed at turning these schools into innovation hubs and bridging the skills gap in the workforce.

In 2026, each polytechnic will receive around N1.871 billion, part of a N6.45 billion package distributed to 271 institutions. Funds are earmarked for:

• Infrastructure upgrades
• Research and innovation programs
• Modern engineering equipment
• Skills-focused curriculum improvements

Amendments to the Polytechnics Act will allow polytechnics to award bachelor’s degrees, raising their profile and relevance in national development.

5. Improved Affordability and Quality of Learning Materials

Textbook quality and affordability are also improving. The Ministry introduced a reusable textbook policy, requiring durable books designed to last 4–6 years and banning disposable workbooks.

A Book Ranking and Selection Committee, including representatives from NERDC, UBEC, NTI, and the National Senior Secondary Education Commission, now evaluates and approves textbooks.

The committee limits the number of approved books per subject, ensuring materials are high-quality, standardised, and aligned with the curriculum while reducing costs for families.

2026 could be a big year for Nigeria’s education system. From what we see, combining digital innovation, practical skills, integrity in examinations, and inclusive policies, is part of the reforms’ aim to empower a generation prepared for future challenges.

There are challenges, such as security and access issues, but international partnerships and technology adoption are helping Nigeria stay competitive globally.

Stakeholders who engage with these changes can help turn potential into measurable progress, building a smarter, more capable, and united country.

Jointly issued by Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, the minister of Education, and Professor Suwaiba Sa’id, the minister of State for Education, the policy introduces durable, high-quality textbooks designed to last four to six years.

According to the joint statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, director, Press and Public Relations at the Ministry, the policy also bans the bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks, allowing materials to be shared among siblings and reused across academic sessions.

This initiative is expected to significantly lower recurring costs for parents while reducing school waste.

In addition, the policy establishes a uniform academic calendar to ensure consistency in teaching and learning nationwide.

Graduation ceremonies are now streamlined, limited to students completing Primary 6, JSS3, and SSS3.

The policy also strengthens the assessment, selection, and quality assurance of instructional materials.

Structured revision cycles will ensure only substantive content improvements are made, while limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject align with international best practices.

This addresses concerns about frequent, cosmetic textbook revisions that previously forced parents to purchase new books annually without meaningful updates.

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to oversee textbook quality assurance, while the Federal Ministry of Education reaffirms its commitment to equitable access to high-quality learning materials and comprehensive education reform across the country.

Mr Andrew David Adejo, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, on Tuesday during a robotics project presentation by the Federal Government Girls College Sagamu, Ogun State (FGGC Sagamu) at the Ministry’s head office in Abuja.

Dr. Muyibat Adenike Olodo, the Director and Principal of FGGC, Sagamu, led the College’s robotics team consisting of some students and members of staff who are the coaches to present an innovation of the College, a humanoid, named Okikiola Sagamu to the Permanent Secretary.

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) built by the students could walk around, recognise faces, shake hands and exchange pleasantries among others.

Brief Demo:

Permanent Secretary, Andrew Adejo who was impressed by the innovation of the students, said he was not surprised because the Federal Government Colleges (Unity Schools) remain the best in Nigeria.

He, however, noted that as a part initiative to “catch them young”, NERDC should work to integrate coding, robotics, and AI into the basic education curriculum.

Adejo also charged the students and unity schools to move further by designing AI that could take orders and serve food in restaurants, assuring them that government would be ready to support such innovation.

Earlier, Dr. Muyibat Adenike Olodo, the Director and Principal of FGGC, Sagamu, said efforts at exposing the students and their coaches to the current trend in the world of technology, that is, coding, AI, machine learning and robotics were sowing good seeds in Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs).

She commended the founder of Coderina Education and Technology Foundation, Mr Olajide Ademola Ajayi for his mentorship and technical assistance to the team.

One of the students that participated in the Robotic project, Esther Ogunnaike, said they were inspired by the Principal of the College, Dr Olodo, who also ensured that a robotics centre was established in the school last year before the commencement of the project.

“It was actually the vision of our Principal. She established a robotics centre for this very project. She wanted us to build a robot that will be able to recognize faces, move its neck, and eyes, pick up objects we need to use in the classroom and so on. We are happy because we should be able to move with the world. The world is moving with technological advancement, so, Nigeria cannot be left behind,” she said.

She called on the Federal Government to support innovation in schools, saying with more resources the team would be able to produce a better version than what Okikiola Sagamu that was presented to the ministry.

FGGC Sagamu is one of the schools adopted by Coderina to ensure that students are exposed to robotics and other AI related engineering.