Reps ask FG to reinstate biology as a compulsory subject
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to reinstate Biology as a core and compulsory subject in senior secondary schools, warning that its removal could weaken students’ scientific knowledge.
The House also called for Spanish, German, Chinese and Russian to be introduced into the school curriculum to address Nigeria’s shortage of interpreters and strengthen the country’s capacity to engage in international affairs.
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to reinstate Biology as a core and compulsory subject in senior secondary schools, warning that its removal could weaken students’ scientific knowledge.
The House also called for Spanish, German, Chinese and Russian to be introduced into the school curriculum to address Nigeria’s shortage of interpreters and strengthen the country’s capacity to engage in international affairs.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka, who sought a review of the Federal Ministry of Education’s circular of September 8, 2025, outlining approved subjects for basic and senior secondary education.
Moving the motion, Isiaka expressed concern over Biology’s removal from the list of compulsory subjects, arguing that the discipline was essential to understanding human beings, plants and other living organisms.
He said Biology had traditionally been a compulsory subject in Nigerian secondary schools and remained vital to developing students’ understanding of science, human life and the environment.
The lawmaker further argued that dropping Biology as a compulsory subject was ill-advised at a time when scientific research and technological advancement were increasingly important worldwide.
On foreign languages, the House said Nigeria’s expanding international, economic, scientific, technological and diplomatic engagements required a broader range of language skills.
It maintained that introducing Spanish, German, Chinese and Russian would help train more interpreters and reduce the country’s reliance on foreign language services.
Consequently, the lawmakers urged the Ministry of Education to review the revised curriculum and restore Biology as a core and compulsory subject for senior secondary school students.
They also asked the ministry to develop a plan to recruit and train qualified teachers to teach the proposed foreign languages in basic and senior secondary schools.
The House mandated its Committees on Basic Education and Services, Alternative Education, and Basic Examination Bodies to engage with the ministry to ensure the implementation of the resolutions.
The committees were directed to report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.
