The Ministry of Education has clarified that the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, only proposed the idea of introducing a 12-year basic education system and not an immediate policy change. The ministry emphasized that reports suggesting a swift implementation of this new policy, which would abolish the Junior and Senior Secondary School system, are incorrect.
In a statement issued by Folasade Boriowo, the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education, the ministry confirmed that the National Council on Education would review the proposal before any decisions are made.
The statement explained that during an Extraordinary National Council on Education meeting held on February 6, 2025, in Abuja, Maruf Olatunji Alausa presented a proposal for discussion, not an immediate policy shift. The proposal suggests transitioning to 12 years of compulsory education while maintaining the current 6-3-3 structure. One key aspect of the proposal is the removal of the examination barrier between Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS), allowing students to advance without external assessments at this stage. However, this remains subject to further consultation and deliberation.
The ministry further outlined that over the next eight months, it will conduct extensive stakeholder consultations, engaging education policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and other relevant parties. A final decision on whether to adopt the reform will be made at the National Council on Education meeting in October 2025.
The ministry urged the public to disregard inaccurate claims that the JSS and SSS systems have been abolished. The Federal Government remains committed to policies that improve access to quality education and align with global best practices.
