Anambra Integrates Tech and Vocational Skills into JSS Curriculum
The Anambra State Government has unveiled a new curriculum for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) that incorporates 15 practical entrepreneurial subjects, including solar installation, GSM repairs, and plumbing.
This initiative, announced by the Post-Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC), aims to equip students with tangible, market-ready skills alongside traditional academic knowledge.
Speaking at the official launch in Awka, the Chairperson of the PPSSC, Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, explained that the policy is designed to foster a generation of “value creators” rather than just job seekers.
“The goal of the programme is to prepare learners, not only to seek jobs but to create value, generate employment and contribute meaningfully to the economic development of the state.
“Education should go beyond theory and examinations to equip students with practical skills, creativity, innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset,” Ikediugwu said.
The expanded curriculum is diverse, covering sectors ranging from technology to artisanship. In addition to solar installation and phone repairs, students will now take courses in robotics, digital literacy, CCTV/intercom installation, garment making, agriculture, bakery, hairstyling, and interior design.
Mr. Cyril Nwuche of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, who also spoke at the event, lauded the government’s foresight.
“Traditional academic instruction alone is no longer sufficient to prepare children for the future. There is a need for schools to embrace practical and skill-based learning to enable students to thrive in a dynamic global environment,” he noted.
This educational reform aligns with Governor Charles Soludo’s broader agenda to revamp the state’s school system.
Since assuming office, the Soludo administration has recruited over 3,000 new teachers, upgraded 60 school laboratories with STEM tools, and extended the free education policy through to Senior Secondary School level 3 (SS3).
The government believes that by formalizing these skills within the school setting, it can reduce dropout rates and offer structured certification for trades that many youths often pursue informally.
However, details regarding the recruitment of specialized instructors for these new technical subjects remain to be fully clarified.
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