What’s Changing — A Fresh Start for Technical Schools
The Federal Government has officially published the full list of 26 trade areas approved under its revised technical-education curriculum, which takes effect from the 2025/2026 academic session.
A key part of this reform: all Federal Science and Technical Colleges will be converted to Federal Technical Colleges.
Announced by Education Minister Dr. Maruf Alausa and the Minister of State, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, the new policy mandates that each college will offer between six and ten trade courses.
Balancing Trade & General Education
Under the revised system, students in these colleges are required to take nine to ten subjects. These include:
- One core trade
- Five to six general subjects
- Two or three trade-related subjects
- One elective
Also new is the introduction of Citizenship and Heritage Studies, alongside the usual core science and languages. According to the Ministry, these adjustments are intended to reduce subject overload, build globally competitive skills, and respond to industry demand across sectors such as construction, energy, agriculture, automotive, creative media, and digital services.
What Are the New Trades?
Here are the 26 approved trade areas students will be able to learn under the revised technical-education curriculum:
1. Brick laying, block laying and concreting
2. Woodwork, carpentry and joinery
3. Plumbing and pipe fitting
4. Computer hardware & GSM repair and maintenance
5. Refrigeration & air-conditioning works
6. Mechanised agriculture (mechanisation / smart agriculture)
7. Autobody works
8. Catering craft practice
9. Solar PV installation and maintenance
10. Fashion design and garment making
11. Livestock farming/animal husbandry
12. Fish farming (aquaculture)
13. Motorcycle & tricycle repairs
14. Painting, decoration and finishes (interior design)
15. Welding & fabrication
16. Auto-electrical wiring
17. Automobile mechanics
18. Beauty therapy & cosmetology
19. Creative media (digital media production/operations)
20. Electronic systems maintenance craft
21. Furniture making & upholstery
22. Networking & system security (including satellite TV antenna installation and maintenance)
23. Social media content creation and management
24. Tiling & cladding (tiling and decorative stonework / floor-cover installation)
25. Automobile CNG conversion and maintenance
26. Leather works
Looking Beyond the List
This is more than just a check-list of trades. It signals a shift in Nigeria’s education policy toward aligning skills taught in schools with what the job market actually needs. With fewer but more focused courses and a balance between trade and general education, students may finish school better prepared for jobs or entrepreneurship.
This reform also aims to ease the burden on learners from carrying too many unrelated subjects, which can dilute focus and produce graduates less equipped for specific industries.