The Federal Government has announced plans to overhaul Nigeria’s education structure, citing the alarming rate of school dropouts caused by the separation of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and Senior Secondary Schools (SSS).

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee in Abuja.

Alausa said the existing arrangement has failed to deliver seamless access to education, revealing that more than 20 million children who enrolled in primary school dropped out before reaching senior secondary level.

According to the minister, Nigeria has about 80,000 public primary schools but only 15,000 junior secondary schools, creating a major transition gap that leaves millions of pupils without access to further education after primary school.

He explained that the policy separating JSS from SSS has contributed to overcrowding in junior secondary schools while many senior secondary schools remain underutilised.

“About 24 million children enrol in our primary schools, but only about four million complete senior secondary education. We have over 20 million children dropping out between primary school and junior secondary school. Where are those students?” he queried.

Alausa said the Tinubu administration was determined to reverse the trend and expand access to education by phasing out the policy.

“The previous governments may have failed in this regard, but this government will not fail. We are fixing this. We need to create more opportunities for children to move seamlessly through the education system.

“We have overflowing junior secondary schools and empty senior secondary schools. I can objectively report today that this disarticulation policy has failed. We will phase it out,” he stated.

The minister disclosed that the proposal would be presented at the next meeting of the National Council on Education for consideration and possible adoption.

He also inaugurated a high-powered committee chaired by education expert, Prof. Rashid Aderinoye, to accelerate the completion, handover and operationalisation of Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools funded by UBEC nationwide.

Alausa expressed concern that several completed projects remained abandoned or had not been handed over to state governments despite huge public investments.

“The purpose of these schools is to educate children, not to remain locked up after completion,” he said.

Earlier, UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, said the Federal Government had made significant progress in expanding access to quality education through its specialised school programmes.

She revealed that 37 Smart Schools have been established across the country, with 24 already operational, while others are at different stages of completion and preparation for academic activities.

Garba also disclosed that 30 schools have been established under the UBEC-Islamic Development Bank Bilingual Education Programme across nine states, while the Alternative Schools Programme is providing learning opportunities for vulnerable and out-of-school children through flexible education models.

She said the newly inaugurated committee would ensure timely completion of projects, address implementation challenges and guarantee that educational investments deliver meaningful outcomes for Nigerian children.

Responding on behalf of the committee, Prof. Aderinoye pledged to work diligently to remove obstacles delaying project delivery and improve access to quality education nationwide.

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The new guideline, introduced last week, mandates that children must complete six years of primary education and attain the age of 12 before being enrolled into JSS1. The policy aims to standardize age-appropriate learning progression across private and independent schools nationwide.

Non-State Schools commonly known as private or independent institutions are run independently of government management and are typically funded through tuition fees, donations, and support from religious, community, or philanthropic organizations. Despite their varying standards, they play a growing role in Nigeria’s educational landscape.

The document reiterates the structure of early childhood and basic education, setting a three-year timeline for nursery education beginning at age three, followed by one year of compulsory kindergarten at age five. Primary education is to begin at age six and last for six years before transition into junior secondary level.

“Every child must complete six years of primary education and be around the age of twelve before being admitted into Junior Secondary School 1,” the policy stated.

This structured age progression, if enforced, means students would typically enter tertiary institutions at around age 18, a shift from current trends where much younger candidates often seek university admission. This policy echoes earlier debates over the ideal minimum age for university entry, previously set at 18 by former Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman before it was revised to 16 by his successor, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

Further data from the Nigeria Education Digest 2022 shows a rapid expansion of non-state schools in recent years. Between 2017 and 2022, non-state primary schools grew by over 31%, compared to just 3.3% growth among state-owned schools. At the junior secondary level, private school numbers surged by 35%, while public schools expanded by only 6.8%.

In at least 26 states, non-state schools outnumber their public counterparts at the junior secondary level, illustrating the sector’s growing influence.

This latest policy is part of a broader effort by the Federal Government to improve education quality and regulation in private institutions, ensuring that learning is not only accessible but also aligned with developmental needs.

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Under this system, Nigerian children will undergo a compulsory 12-year uninterrupted basic education before proceeding to higher education.

Additionally, the government has proposed setting 16 years as the minimum entry age for tertiary institutions, pending approval from the National Council on Education (NCE).

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the policy change on Thursday during an extraordinary NCE meeting in Abuja. The meeting, attended by commissioners for education from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, along with key stakeholders in the education sector, focused on aligning Nigeria’s education system with global standards.

Benefits of the 12-Year Basic Education System

Dr. Alausa stated that integrating secondary education into basic education would ensure uninterrupted learning until students reach age 16. He emphasized that this approach would reduce dropout rates by removing financial and systemic barriers that hinder students from completing their education.

“Extending basic education to 12 years will provide a standardized curriculum nationwide, ensuring early exposure to vocational and entrepreneurial skills. This will better prepare students for higher education and employment,” he said.

The minister noted that many developed nations operate similar education models, enabling students to acquire strong foundational knowledge before specializing in tertiary institutions.

Economic and Social Impact

The government believes that the new education framework will positively impact national development by reducing child labor, curbing school dropouts, and equipping students with relevant skills for the workforce.

“When students receive an extended period of compulsory education, they are better prepared to contribute meaningfully to the economy and society,” Dr. Alausa added.

Implementation Strategy

To ensure a smooth transition to the new education model, the government has outlined key strategies, including:

• Policy Reforms to support the new education structure
• Infrastructure Expansion to accommodate extended basic education
• Teacher Training and Recruitment to enhance learning quality
• Increased Funding and Partnerships to sustain the reform
• Curriculum Enhancement to integrate vocational and entrepreneurial skills

The proposed changes, once fully adopted, are expected to position Nigeria’s education system for improved global competitiveness and better learning outcomes.

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