Assessment of Health Education Curriculum Content and Delivery in Junior Secondary Schools in Plateau State

The health education curriculum in Nigerian secondary schools plays a vital role in shaping health behaviours and preventing disease among young people. This study assesses the adequacy of health education curriculum content and the quality of its delivery in junior secondary schools in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was employed, with data collected from 200 students and 40 health education teachers across 20 schools in five local government areas using questionnaires and lesson observation schedules. Curriculum documents were also subjected to content analysis against national minimum standards and current global health education frameworks. Findings indicate that while the official curriculum addresses communicable disease prevention, personal hygiene, and family health, critical contemporary health issues including mental health, substance abuse prevention, sexual and reproductive health, and non-communicable disease risk factors are inadequately covered or entirely absent from instructional practice. Teacher-centred lecture methods predominate, with participatory, student-centred approaches rarely observed. Over 60 percent of teachers report insufficient instructional materials and limited in-service training opportunities as barriers to effective delivery. Recommendations include curriculum revision to incorporate emerging health issues, provision of supplementary teaching and learning materials, and systematic in-service training for health education teachers. The study advocates for stronger collaboration between the Plateau State Ministry of Education and health agencies to ensure curriculum relevance and instructional quality. Keywords: health education curriculum, junior secondary schools, Plateau State, curriculum delivery, content assessment