The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has debunked reports claiming that the Federal Government has scrapped the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) and replaced them with a 12-year uninterrupted basic education model.
Speaking to the media on Friday, the minister clarified that his recent statement at the 2025 Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) Meeting was misrepresented by sections of the media. He emphasized that he only proposed a transition to 12 years of compulsory education while retaining the current 6-3-3-4 system, and not an immediate policy change.
Clarification on the Proposal
Dr. Alausa explained that his proposal seeks to make education compulsory for 12 years, but without scrapping JSS and SSS. A major feature of the proposal, he said, is to remove the examination barrier between JSS and SSS, allowing students to transition seamlessly without the need for an external assessment at that stage.
“The Federal Ministry of Education has been made aware of misleading reports suggesting that the government has abolished JSS and SSS. This is not true,” the minister stated.
He further clarified:
“At the Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) Meeting held on February 6, 2025, in Abuja, I presented a proposal for discussion—not an immediate policy change. The proposal seeks to migrate to 12 years of compulsory education while retaining the current 6-3-3 structure.”
Consultations Ongoing – Final Decision in October 2025
Dr. Alausa emphasized that the proposal is still under review and will undergo extensive stakeholder engagement over the next eight months. Consultations will involve:
- Education policymakers
- State governments
- Teachers
- Parents
- Other key players in the education sector
The final decision on whether to adopt the reform will be made at the October 2025 National Council on Education Meeting.
He urged Nigerians to disregard false reports and assured that the government remains committed to improving access to quality education while aligning with global best practices.
