The National Minimum Standards for Senior Secondary Education, developed by NSSEC, were officially approved during the 68th National Council on Education meeting held from October 7 to 10, 2024. These standards were formally launched by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, in February 2025.
Speaking at the launch of the 2025 Quality Assurance Monitoring and Evaluation Exercise at the Federal Government College, Malali, Kaduna, NSSEC Executive Secretary Iyela Ajayi emphasized the goal of improving the quality of senior secondary education across the country. He described the initiative as a key step toward fostering academic excellence, critical thinking, and holistic student development.
Ajayi reiterated the federal government’s commitment under President Bola Tinubu’s administration to enhancing education, which he described as vital to achievingnational development goals. He stated that the newly established standards will serve as benchmarks for all senior secondary schools nationwide.
He explained that copies of the standards have already been distributed to state representatives for local implementation. “The implementation period will last nine months, after which the Commission will begin enforcement,” Ajayi noted.
The Quality Assurance initiative will focus on rigorous monitoring and evaluation of schools to assess their strengths and weaknesses, ensure accountability, and drive continuous improvement. “This programme is designed to promote best practices, offer constructive feedback to educators, and enhance teaching effectiveness and student outcomes,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Muhammad Bello—represented by Usman Zaria, Director of the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority—welcomed the decision to flag off the 2025 monitoring exercise in Kaduna. He acknowledged that despite substantial investments in education, monitoring and evaluation had been a weak point in the system. Bello pledged the state government’s full support for NSSEC’s quality assurance drive.
