The federal government has dismissed reports claiming the abolition of the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) education system, clarifying that discussions regarding potential reforms are ongoing.
In an interview with THISDAY, Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, refuted these claims, stating that while a shift towards a 12-year uninterrupted basic education model is being considered, no final decision has been made.
Alausa’s clarification comes after a media report suggested that the federal government had replaced the current 6-3-3-4 education structure with a 12-4 model.
The report alleged that the minister announced this change at the 2025 extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) meeting in Abuja.
While acknowledging that many developed nations have adopted similar educational systems, Alausa emphasized that Nigeria is still in the deliberation phase.
“We haven’t even reached the implementation phase. Any changes must first be approved by the National Council of Education, the highest decision-making body on education policies,” he explained.
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Reasons Behind the Proposed Reform
According to the minister, the proposed educational framework would extend Nigeria’s compulsory basic education from nine to 12 years.
He noted that past educational structures produced students with a stronger foundational knowledge, which is why the government is reviewing the current system.
“That means we’re just training individuals who lack essential skills and require further training. We have nine years now, but we’re proposing to increase it to 12 years of compulsory education,” Alausa stated.
He further argued that a 12-year model would align Nigeria with global education standards, ensuring better preparation for tertiary studies.
“A continuous curriculum promotes better standardization, quality assurance, and improved educational outcomes,” he said.
Additionally, Alausa highlighted concerns regarding talented students being delayed from entering universities due to age restrictions.
“Bright students completing secondary school at 16 are forced to wait until they turn 18. This delays their development and could exacerbate mental health issues,” he warned.
Despite the ongoing discussions, Alausa assured that no changes would be implemented before the last quarter of 2025.
