In Nigeria, the Federal Government has declared that the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) will no longer exist. Instead, a new 12-year uninterrupted basic education model will take the place of the current 6-3-3-4 educational system. Prior to entering postsecondary institutions or other job tracks, this new program guarantees that every Nigerian child obtains 12 years of continuous education.
Furthermore, pending National Council on Education (NCE) approval, the government has suggested making 16 the minimum age of admission to higher education.
During the 2025 extraordinary NCE meeting in Abuja on Thursday, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, made this announcement.
The NCE, which is acknowledged as the top policy-making organisation in Nigeria’s education sector, brought together international development partners, ministry agencies, commissioners of education from each of the 36 states, and officials from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Alausa asserts that including secondary education into basic education will guarantee students’ continuous study until they are sixteen. He underlined that by eliminating systemic and financial barriers that keep students from finishing their education, the strategy will lower dropout rates and is in line with international best practices.
According to the minister, “extending basic education to 12 years will provide a standardised curriculum implemented across the country.” “This will also prepare students for both higher education and employment by exposing them to entrepreneurial and vocational skills at an early age.” He added that a 12-year basic education program is common in many industrialised nations, guaranteeing that students get a strong academic foundation prior to pursuing tertiary-level specialisation.
It is anticipated that the change will raise educational standards and increase Nigeria’s competitiveness internationally. Alausa emphasised the reform’s wider advantages, stating that young people with greater education will be better able to support the growth of the country. He went on to say that extending the years of mandatory schooling would lessen child labour and other societal problems brought on by early school dropouts.
“Students who stay in school longer acquire relevant skills that are needed in the workforce, which leads to economic growth and stability,” he said.
The government has delineated crucial implementation measures to ensure a smooth transition to the new system, which include:
Reforming educational policies to conform to the new framework is known as policy reform. • Infrastructure Expansion: constructing additional classrooms and modernising school infrastructure.
- Teacher Recruitment and Training: Recruiting competent teachers and improving teacher education programs.
- Partnerships and funds: Working together with commercial and foreign organisations to obtain funds.
Redesigning school curricula to conform to the 12-year education paradigm is known as curriculum enhancement.
In the upcoming months, the government is anticipated to provide more information about the rollout strategy.
CREDIT: ALLSCHOOL, Allschoolabs
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