The Federal Government has announced plans to engage key stakeholders in discussions over a proposed 12-year compulsory basic education model, which seeks to enhance Nigeria’s education system by extending mandatory schooling from nine to twelve years.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made this known during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, clarifying that the proposal remains under review and has not yet been adopted as official policy.
The proposal, which was first presented at the Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, aims to ensure students receive a more comprehensive education by eliminating the external examination barrier between Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS). If implemented, students will progress seamlessly through their studies without the need for external assessments at that stage.
Alausa explained that the move aligns with global best practices in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ghana, where 12 years of basic education are mandatory before students transition to tertiary institutions or vocational training.
Highlighting concerns about Nigeria’s falling education quality, the minister stated that maintaining only nine years of compulsory education is inadequate for preparing students for the future.
“If we continue to tell our children they only need nine years of compulsory education, we are simply producing half-baked graduates who are unprepared for the realities of today’s world,” Alausa said. “In the past, students who completed Standard Six had stronger academic foundations compared to some of today’s JSS3 graduates. We must address this decline.”
He emphasized that strengthening early childhood education and improving public school infrastructure will be critical to the success of the proposed policy.
Beyond the 12-year education model, the NCE also approved several initiatives aimed at addressing systemic challenges in the education sector. These include a National Anti-Bullying Policy to create safer learning environments, the introduction of native languages in primary education to strengthen literacy and cultural identity, and minimum age requirements for tertiary education admissions to ensure students are adequately prepared for higher learning.
Alausa acknowledged that implementing the proposal will require substantial funding and additional resources. He revealed plans to lobby President Bola Tinubu for an increase in the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funding, pushing for a budget increase from 2% to 5% of the nation’s consolidated revenue.
“Our education sector needs serious investment. We are engaging all necessary stakeholders, and over the next eight months, we will conduct extensive consultations to determine the feasibility of this policy,” he said.
The final decision on whether to adopt the 12-year compulsory education model will be made at the National Council on Education meeting in October 2025, following extensive discussions with state governments, policymakers, teachers, parents, and other key players in the education sector.
Alausa reassured Nigerians that no drastic policy changes would be made without due process, urging the public to disregard misinformation about an immediate overhaul of the education system.
As the debate continues, education experts and stakeholders will be watching closely to see if the proposed reform can bridge Nigeria’s learning gaps and improve the country’s educational standards.
