First Term, Second Term, Third Term: How the Nigerian School Year Works

The Nigerian academic year follows a three-term structure. Each term has its own set of topics, assessment cycle, and rhythms. The Term Structure First Term runs from September to December with approximately 12 to 14 teaching weeks. Second Term runs from January to April with approximately 12 to 14 teaching weeks. Third Term runs from April to July with approximately 10 to 12 teaching weeks. How the NERDC Curriculum Maps to Terms The NERDC curriculum specifies which topics should be covered in each term. First term topics are typically foundational for the year. Second term topics build on first term content. Third term topics consolidate and extend the year learning. This sequence means that if a teacher falls behind in first term, the delay cascades through second and third term. What Happens During Each Term A typical term includes teaching weeks, assessment weeks, break weeks, and events weeks. Experienced teachers account for these interruptions in their schemes of work. How Terms Affect Resource Creation The three-term structure creates a specific rhythm: creating schemes of work at the beginning of each term, creating lesson plans during the term, and creating assessment materials at the end. The Challenge of Term Transitions The transition between terms is a critical point for curriculum continuity. Effective teachers use the first week of each term for review before introducing new content.