Initiating a Paradigm Shift in Secondary School Curriculum in Nigeria for Youth Empowerment and Job Creation in the 21st Century

In recent times, there has been increasing global concern over the continuously expanded rate of unemployment around the world, particularly in most developing countries, where the youths have been identified as the most affected groups. This is as a result of the government and its stakeholder’s inability to give education the desired attention. Sound education equips youths to challenge the status quo and proffer better alternatives as the way out of the present economic quagmire. It is argued that a new paradigm shift is needed in the area of school curriculum to lead the way to reform present practices; it has to be analyzed occasionally to create a scope that will encompass new disciplines and areas to make it appropriate to the prevailing situation. The task of producing skilled human resource development for youth empowerment, and job creation in society lies with the quality of our school curriculum. The effectiveness of the school curriculum depends on how lots the school is fulfilling the needs of the learners, the society, and the educational objectives. This paper offers; the concept of the paradigm shift, why paradigm shift in the secondary school curriculum, the concept of youth empowerment and job creation, the benefits of paradigm shift in the secondary school curriculum, challenges to the paradigm shift in secondary school curriculum, conclusion and recommendations proffered as part of initiating a paradigm shift in secondary school curriculum in Nigeria for youth empowerment and job creation in the 21st century.