Federal Government Adds Chinese Language to Secondary School Curriculum

Federal Government Adds Chinese Language to Secondary School Curriculum

The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially included Chinese Language (Mandarin) in the new national curriculum for senior secondary schools. The decision follows a recent curriculum review carried out by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to the Ministry, the introduction of Mandarin aims to strengthen Nigeria’s global competitiveness, foster cultural exchange, and expand career opportunities for students in international trade, diplomacy, and technology. The government explained that as China remains one of Nigeria’s largest trade partners, equipping young people with language skills will help them access more opportunities in education and the labor market.

Education stakeholders have described the move as a step toward diversifying language learning in Nigerian schools, where French and Arabic have traditionally been the dominant foreign languages taught. Teachers will undergo specialized training while pilot programs will begin in selected schools before full nationwide rollout.

The initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to modernize the curriculum, integrate global trends, and better prepare Nigerian students for the interconnected world.