Ministry of Education Clarifies Proposal for 12-Year Basic Education System
The Ministry of Education has issued a statement to clarify that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has merely proposed the introduction of a 12-year basic education system. This comes after several media outlets reported that a new policy aimed at scrapping the Junior and Senior Secondary School system was already in effect.
According to the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, the proposal was presented for discussion at the Extraordinary National Council on Education Meeting held on February 6, 2025, in Abuja. The proposal seeks to transition to 12 years of compulsory education while retaining the current 6-3-3 structure.
A key aspect of this proposal is the elimination of the examination barrier between Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS), allowing students to progress seamlessly without external assessments at that stage. However, this remains subject to further consultation and deliberation.
To ensure a well-informed decision, the ministry will undertake extensive stakeholder engagements over the next eight months. This will involve consulting education policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and other key players.
The final decision on whether to adopt this reform will be made at the National Council on Education meeting in October 2025. The ministry has urged the public to disregard false claims that JSS and SSS have been scrapped.
The Federal Government remains committed to policies that enhance access to quality education while aligning with global best practices. The proposed 12-year basic education system is aimed at achieving this goal, and the ministry is committed to ensuring that any changes to the education system are made with the best interests of Nigerian students in mind.
