By Samuel Adeola
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has extended the third-term academic calendar for public primary schools by five weeks, now scheduled to run from Monday, July 28, to Friday, August 29, 2025. This decision aims to recover valuable learning time lost during the three-month teachers’ strike earlier this year.
In a circular signed by Dr. Alhassan Sule, Executive Secretary of the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), the directive emphasizes the need to bridge the academic gap created by the industrial action.
FCT primary school teachers had embarked on an indefinite strike on March 24, 2025, over unpaid minimum wage arrears by the six area council chairmen. The prolonged strike severely disrupted academic activities and forced pupils to abandon their second-term examinations midway. The industrial action was eventually called off on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, following the intervention of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, which facilitated the release of N16 billion to settle part of the outstanding salaries and allowed schools to complete the postponed exams.
“All primary school teachers in the FCT must comply with this directive,” the circular stated, also noting that an additional period will be added to the daily schedule for primary 4 to 6 pupils to further enhance learning and catch up on the curriculum.
Reactions from parents and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) have been mixed. While some teachers expressed doubt about how a one-month extension would significantly impact pupils who lost three months of learning, education advocate Muntasir Jibrin described the move as “a welcome development,” stressing that it would allow pupils to regain missed learning.
The extended school term is a critical measure to stabilize the academic calendar and ensure that affected pupils receive adequate instruction before the next academic session commences.
