The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to restore Biology as a compulsory subject for senior secondary school students, warning that its removal could weaken their scientific knowledge.

The lawmakers also called for the introduction of Spanish, German, Chinese and Russian into the school curriculum to prepare students for international engagements.

The House adopted the resolutions on Wednesday following a motion sponsored by Ibrahim Isiaka (APC, Ogun).

The motion, titled “Need to Review the Federal Ministry of Education’s Circular Issued by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council on the Approved Subjects for Basic and Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria”, challenged the removal of Biology from the list of compulsory subjects.

Presenting the motion, Isiaka referred to a circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Education on September 8, 2025, which outlined approved subjects for basic and senior secondary education.

He expressed concern that the revised subject list no longer classified Biology as a compulsory subject for senior secondary school students, despite its importance to science education.

“Biology provides essential knowledge about the human body, plants, animals and other living organisms, making it important to students’ education and their understanding of the environment,” Isiaka said.

He warned that removing the subject from the compulsory curriculum could limit students’ access to scientific knowledge applicable to healthcare, agriculture and environmental protection.

“The House is concerned that the removal of Biology as a compulsory and core subject will cause significant harm to the education standard of our students in their capacity to acquire knowledge that is universally acknowledged and to benefit themselves, society and humanity at large,” he said.

The motion also highlighted the contribution of biological research and scientific experiments to global scientific advancement, including studies aboard the International Space Station and missions exploring the Moon and Mars.

Consequently, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Education to review the revised curriculum and restore Biology as a core and compulsory subject at the senior secondary level.

The lawmakers also called on the ministry to introduce Spanish, German, Chinese and Russian into the curriculum to expand students’ language skills and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to engage with other countries.

They urged the ministry to develop appropriate recruitment and training arrangements for teachers of the proposed foreign languages, particularly at basic and senior secondary levels.

The House said increasing the number of language teachers and interpreters would help address the shortage of professionals capable of facilitating communication during international engagements.

To ensure implementation, the lawmakers mandated the Committees on Basic Education and Services, Alternative Education and Basic Examination Bodies to liaise with the ministry and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

Biology provides a foundation for further studies in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, agriculture and other biological sciences.

The Federal Government introduced the revised curriculum in 2025, with implementation beginning in the 2025/2026 academic year.

Under the new arrangement, Biology remains an approved subject but is no longer among the compulsory core subjects for senior secondary school students.