NERDC disowns fake curriculum fund appeal, warns public against scams
August 3, 2026 5:01 pm
Prof Salisu Shehu
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council has disowned a fake document circulating in the public domain requesting financial support for the production, printing and nationwide distribution of the Revised Basic Education Curriculum for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The Executive Secretary of NERDC, Professor Salisu Shehu, described the purported correspondence as fictitious, frivolous and unauthorised, warning government agencies, educational institutions, development partners and members of the public to disregard it.
In a disclaimer he personally signed on Monday in Abuja, Shehu said the Council had not issued any letter or document seeking financial assistance from any institution for the production, printing or distribution of the revised curriculum.
“Our attention has been drawn to fictitious and frivolous documents and correspondences purported to emanate from the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, requesting financial support for the production, printing, and nationwide distribution of the Revised Basic Education Curriculum covering the 2026/2027 academic session.
“The Management of NERDC hereby strongly and unequivocally disclaims any document or correspondence, under any guise or arrangement, requesting support from any institution for the production, printing and distribution of the Revised Basic Education Curriculum”, the statement partly read.
The NERDC boss explained that the Council had already made adequate arrangements for the production, printing, dissemination and distribution of the revised curriculum through the appropriate federal and state education authorities, agencies and departments.
He stressed that there was no need for any institution or individual to solicit financial support on behalf of the Council for the exercise.
Shehu urged government agencies, educational institutions, development partners, stakeholders and the general public to ignore any correspondence purportedly issued by NERDC requesting financial support for the curriculum.
“The Council remains committed to maintaining diligence in its official communications and safeguarding the integrity and sanctity of Nigeria’s national curriculum,” he said.
He assured stakeholders that all authentic information relating to the Revised Basic Education Curriculum would only be communicated through NERDC’s official channels.
The disclaimer comes as the Federal Government intensifies reforms to improve learning outcomes and reposition Nigeria’s basic education system under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
NERDC, the agency responsible for developing and reviewing the national curriculum, recently completed a review of the Basic Education Curriculum to align it with emerging national priorities, including foundational literacy and numeracy, digital skills, entrepreneurship, civic values and 21st-century competencies.
The revised curriculum is expected to be implemented in the 2026/2027 academic session as part of broader education reforms being championed by the Federal Ministry of Education.
In recent months, the ministry has also launched nationwide learning assessments, adopted data-driven strategies to identify out-of-school children and introduced measures aimed at strengthening curriculum delivery and improving the quality of teaching and learning across the country.
Deborah Tolu-Kolawole is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with four years of experience covering Nigeria’s vast education sector as well as related areas such as politics, health, security, and labour. She blends rigorous reporting with digital storytelling to bring clarity and insight to complex issues affecting learners, educators, and policymakers. Deborah was a nominee for The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) Prize in Journalism, recognising her impactful reporting and contributions to Nigerian media. Her work reflects strong newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a commitment to accurate, audience-focused journalism. In addition to her reporting, she is fluent in multiple languages and serves as a contributing member of The Punch editorial board.
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