EDUCATION: FG SEEKS APPROVAL TO SCRAP JSS AND SSS, INTRODUCE 12-YEAR BASIC EDUCATION

The Federal Government has announced plans to scrap Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) and introduce a 12-year uninterrupted basic education model. Under this new system, students will complete 12 years of schooling before proceeding to higher education.

With this proposal, the current 6-3-3-4 education system (six years of primary school, three years of junior secondary, three years of senior secondary, and four years of tertiary education) will be replaced by a 12-4 model (12 years of basic education followed by higher education).

Additionally, the government has sought the approval of the National Council on Education (NCE) to set 16 years as the minimum entry age for tertiary institutions.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this at the 2025 Extraordinary National Council on Education meeting in Abuja. He explained that the new system aims to provide uninterrupted learning up to age 16, reducing dropout rates and removing financial and systemic barriers that currently prevent students from completing secondary school.

Dr. Alausa stated that the reform aligns with global best practices, ensuring that students are better prepared for both higher education and employment. He added that extending basic education will help standardize the curriculum nationwide, introduce vocational and entrepreneurial training, and improve overall educational outcomes.

“Many developed countries have similar systems where basic education lasts 12 years, ensuring students acquire foundational knowledge before specializing at the tertiary level,” Alausa noted.

He also emphasized that the reform would have significant economic and social benefits, as better-educated youth would contribute more to national development and be less vulnerable to child labor and other social vices.

For the new policy to succeed, the government plans to implement policy reforms, expand infrastructure, train and recruit teachers, secure funding through partnerships, and enhance the curriculum.

However, since the National Council on Education has not yet approved the proposal, the policy is still in the planning stage.