Education has continued to evolve, diversify and extend its reach and coverage since the dawn of human history. The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) marked a significant step in the history of education in Nigeria when it introduced the Entrepreneurship subjects and made it mandatory for every student in senior secondary school to offer one Entrepreneurship subject and register it in WAEC/NECO examination in year 2011. The new entrepreneurship curriculum was designed to meet the targets of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) which are expressed as: value re-orientation, poverty eradication, job creation, wealth generation and using education to empower the citizenry.

Photography is one of the Entrepreneurship subjects offered in senior secondary schools in Nigeria. The introduction of the subject is informed by the continually changing world which we live today and the unprecedented rate in technological advancement that is shrinking the world into a global village. Photography enables a person to record visual images through photographs to be kept for posterity. It also enables one to transmit events happening around the globe in a matter of seconds thereby enriching ones experiences in terms of activities that have bearing on politics, economics, education, social, cultural and other institution.

Why every secondary school should be teaching their student photography

There are so many reasons why every school should be teaching photography as an entrepreneurship subject. Below are some of the reasons.

Photography is universal: Photography transcends social class and many use it daily. It is not a trade or profession for the poor and middle class. Kodak once told consumers to “always carry a camera”. Now teenagers carry their smart phone at all times. Those who are inclined towards science and maths often enjoy the technical dimensions; while for those who struggle to draw, photography provides a chance to be visually creative.

Parents would prefer it for their child: The parents of students in our schools today are well informed, exposed and educated. They know what is best for their child and want real value for the money they are paying for their child’s education. From the research conducted by Standard Institute of Photography in Lagos and Ibadan in year 2017, it was discovered that 95% of parents would want their child to take photography as an entrepreneurship subject instead of marketing, data processing or shorthand. Photography is a real trade their child will greatly benefit from whether they end up as photographers in the future or not. Not only will the students benefit from it, their parents will also benefit a lot because their child will become their in-house photographer covering every family event for them for free. Which parent will not want an immediate benefit from their child’s education?

It teaches practical skills: We find that teenagers tend to like learning practical skills. Photography is one subject that teaches practical skills starting from the effective use of digital cameras, composition and framing, photo editing using the computer, printing and framing of pictures. Subjects like photography – along with art, music and drama have immense value for teenagers as a balance for other parts of the curriculum where words and numbers count so highly.

It broadens horizons: Our culture of constant selfies and YouTube uploads has its dangers: safeguarding risks, egocentrism, over-sharing and the over-documentation of events inhibiting our ability to remember them. Teaching photography can counteract these risks, as students learn about being behind the camera instead of always in front of it.

It enriches other subjects: Photography is an art form that has a good blend of chemistry, physics and ICT. Our physics students can use real pinhole cameras to apply pinhole theory and then process the images. History students can explore the impact of an image of Nigeria’s independence in 1960, while geography students can add an extra dimension to field trips by taking photographs. Photography is where art and science meet, so it can help students to think outside subject confines.

It doesn’t require expensive kit: Teaching and learning photography does not require expensive equipment like big camera, studio equipment etc. True photographers can take great pictures with simple equipment; the eye is more important than the camera. Schools don’t need to invest in expensive cameras: they can introduce students to photography using only their smartphones. And if they need to print the picture, it can be uploaded to a computer and taken to a photo lab for printing at a small fee. You don’t need darkroom, studio equipment etc. Smartphone and your school computers are enough. But if you want to buy all the big cameras and equipment, it is perfectly okay.

Photography helps students to express themselves and develop visual perception: What’s more, it means that young people might think twice before pressing the button and posting an image online. So let’s get more students photographing flowers – creating, rather than merely consuming, the output of an entertainment-obsessed age.

Available textbook and curriculum on photography: We now have a new textbook on photography that effectively covers all the topics in the Federal Government approved curriculum for secondary school. This textbook is written, edited and assessed by a combine team of seasoned and experience teachers and professional photographers. The book is practical oriented, activity based, self-explanatory and learner centred instructional material. The curriculum can also be easily gotten.

You do not need a professional photographer to teach the subject to your students: With a well written and illustrated textbook available, photography can be effectively handled by a fine art or science teacher. If you have a photographer who is academically qualified to teach at secondary school level, that will be perfect. But an art or science teacher can effectively use the textbook to teach both the theory and practical aspect of photography.

It is exciting, creative and innovative: Photography is one of the most interesting, creative and innovative subject any student can learn in secondary school. From the taking of pictures with a camera or smartphone to the editing of pictures on a computer system, outdoor photoshoot, excursions and field trips, mounting and framing of pictures for exhibition etc. The excitement is real. The student will be having fun while learning. This is one subject no child should miss.

It will create value for the school: Well trained photography students can help the school to cover and record school events like student’s birthdays, excursions, workshops and seminars, end of session party, anniversaries, carol services etc with a digital camera. This will reduce a lot of cost paid to professional photographers to cover school events. While the students will be so glad to do it for free, the school authority will be smiling and proud of the value they are adding to the life of the students.

If you are a school own, what are you waiting for? Don’t allow your school to be the last to embrace this innovative & lucrative entrepreneurship subject. Give your students and their parents more reasons to be happy that they choose your school. Be a pace and a trendsetter. Please get in touch with the publisher of the photography textbook to order copies for you school against next academic session.

For further enquiries, photography textbook for SS 1-3, photography teacher teaching guide, curriculum, student training log book, WAEC/NECO past questions and answers on Photography, qualified photography teachers, please contact:

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Or contact:

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informative