The Federal Government has unveiled a new curriculum for our children. Subjects have been revised, new trades and technologies introduced, and an effort made to meet the demands of a changing world. This is a worthy step, and it must be acknowledged as such. Yet, we must speak plainly: education is not measured by a list of subjects. It is greater than any syllabus. Education is the building of the mind, the shaping of the citizen, and the lifting of the poor from darkness into light. A curriculum may be the chart, but the vessel requires strong timbers, skilled hands, and steady winds. What use is “Digital Literacy” where no electricity flows? What meaning has “Solar Installation” in schools without tools or roofs that leak in the rain? A trade subject will not flourish where the teacher is weary, underpaid, and unappreciated. And what of the millions of children who still cannot enter a classroom because their parents cannot afford the cost? If we are to be sincere, then we must look beyond the curriculum: We must build schools that stand tall, safe, and fit for learning. We must honor teachers with fair salaries and constant training, for no nation can rise higher than its teachers. We must establish policies that guarantee free and compulsory education for the poor, so that poverty is no longer a chain upon the child’s mind. We must invest not only in subjects but in character, citizenship, and heritage, so that the next generation may grow not only skilled but noble. How Shall We Fund Free Education? The natural question arises: how can a nation such as Nigeria, with its burdens and limited resources, fund free education for the less privileged? The answer is not in despair, but in reform and courage. 1. Reclassify Tax-Exempt Status The law now exempts ecclesiastical, charitable, and educational institutions from taxation. Let this exemption remain for their sacred duties, but not for their commercial ventures. Where churches, mosques, and related institutions run bookshops, bakeries, water factories, real estate firms, or private universities, let those profits be taxed. Faith itself remains untouched; commerce pays its due. With transparency and annual financial reports, this can be done with justice and fairness. 2. Implement a Progressive Tax Structure Let taxation be tiered, so that smaller, community-based organizations bear little or no burden, while larger, highly commercialized institutions contribute according to their size. Thus equity is preserved, and the fear of persecution is calmed. 3. Earmark the Revenue for Education Alone Nigerians mistrust government because funds often vanish without trace. To restore faith, all revenue collected from these ventures must be locked in a constitutionally protected Education Fund. Its sole purpose: to build schools, train teachers, and grant scholarships to the poor. This fund must be transparent, traceable, and shielded from diversion. 4. Engage the Stakeholders Reform without dialogue breeds resistance. Government must meet with religious leaders, civil society, and the people, explaining that this is not a tax on faith, but a call for shared responsibility.