Education stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to carry out a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s basic education curriculum and reinforce quality assurance measures to ensure schools across the country provide globally competitive education.

The appeal was made during the 10th anniversary and graduation ceremony of Epitome Schools in Lagos. The event, themed “A Decade of Impact: Transforming Destinies and Raising Future Leaders,” attracted parents, teachers, pupils, and other education stakeholders.

Speaking at the ceremony, the school’s Director, Bunmi Salami, said Nigeria’s basic education curriculum has remained largely unchanged for many years and needs urgent reforms to meet international standards and the demands of 21st-century education.

According to her, modernising the curriculum would better prepare Nigerian pupils to compete with their counterparts globally. She stressed that the current scheme of work should be benchmarked against global best practices to improve learning outcomes.

Salami also called for stronger quality assurance processes, urging government agencies to conduct thorough inspections before granting accreditation or operational approval to schools.

She explained that school inspectors should carefully assess learning environments, teaching quality, instructional methods, and compliance with approved educational standards before issuing approvals.

She further advocated for greater emphasis on practical and activity-based learning at the nursery and primary school levels, noting that such approaches help children develop critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills from an early age.

Highlighting innovations at Epitome Schools, Salami revealed that the institution has integrated coding, robotics, and interactive smart boards into classroom teaching to equip learners with essential digital skills.

She added that curriculum reforms must go beyond policy announcements, stressing that effective implementation and continuous monitoring in both public and private schools are necessary to achieve meaningful improvements in learning outcomes.

Also speaking at the event, Philippa Okonji, a School Consultant and Trainer at Havila Educonsult, called for increased government investment in basic education.

She noted that quality education cannot be left entirely in the hands of private schools and urged authorities to provide adequate funding, improved supervision, and stronger support for teachers who are responsible for nurturing Nigeria’s future workforce.

Okonji warned that inadequate investment in foundational education could negatively affect the country’s long-term development. She emphasized that today’s nursery and primary school pupils will become tomorrow’s leaders, professionals, and policymakers, making quality basic education a national priority.

Stakeholders at the event also applauded parents and teachers for their commitment to the growth of Epitome Schools over the past decade. They encouraged graduating pupils to remain disciplined, embrace hard work, and continue demonstrating leadership qualities as they progress to secondary school.