The Federal Ministry of Education has refuted claims that the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) system has been scrapped, clarifying that the minister only proposed a transition to a 12-year basic education system.
In a statement on Friday, the ministry emphasized that the proposal, presented by Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa at an extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) meeting, was for discussion purposes and not an immediate policy change.
“The Honourable Minister presented a proposal for discussion, not an immediate policy change,” said Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press at the ministry. “The proposal seeks to introduce 12 years of compulsory education while retaining the current 6-3-3 structure.”
A key feature of the proposal is the removal of external examinations between junior and senior secondary school, allowing students to progress without an assessment barrier. The ministry, however, stressed that this remains under review and would require extensive stakeholder engagement before any decision is made.
Over the next eight months, consultations will be held with education policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and other key stakeholders. The final decision will be taken at the NCE meeting in October 2025.
The ministry urged the public to disregard misinformation and assured that any reforms would be aimed at improving access to quality education while aligning with global best practices.
