The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed reports suggesting an immediate policy change regarding Nigeria’s basic education structure. The ministry clarified that the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, merely proposed a transition to a 12-year compulsory education system and that no official reforms have been implemented.
A statement issued on Friday by the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, on behalf of the minister Dr, Maruf Olatunji Alausa emphasized that claims of scrapping the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) system were misleading. According to the ministry, the proposal remains at the discussion stage and must undergo thorough review before any formal adoption.
“At the Extraordinary National Council on Education Meeting held on February 6, 2025, in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Education presented a proposal for deliberation—not an immediate policy shift. The proposed reform seeks to introduce a 12-year uninterrupted basic education framework while preserving the current 6-3-3 structure,” the statement read.
A key component of this proposal is the removal of the transitional examination barrier between JSS and SSS. If implemented, students would progress seamlessly from junior to senior secondary education without the need for external assessments at that stage. However, the ministry stressed that this remains a proposal and is subject to extensive consultation.
To ensure an inclusive and informed decision-making process, the ministry announced plans to engage key stakeholders—including education policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and other relevant parties—over the next eight months. The final decision on whether to adopt the reform will be made at the National Council on Education meeting scheduled for October 2025.
The ministry urged the public to disregard misleading reports about the scrapping of JSS and SSS, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to policies that improve access to quality education while aligning with global best practices.
