The Federal Government has dismissed media reports claiming it has set a new minimum age of 12 for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1), describing them as misleading and inaccurate.
In a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, the government reaffirmed that the official minimum age for JSS1 admission remains 10 years.
“The report did not originate from any official source and does not reflect government policy,” the statement noted.
Some media outlets (not The Telegraph) had reported that the minimum age for JSS1 had been raised to 12 years, prompting the Ministry to issue the clarification.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for JSS1 remains 10 years. Accordingly, no child should complete primary education before the age of 10. Any suggestion to the contrary is inaccurate and should be disregarded,” Boriowo stated.
She also reaffirmed that the minimum age for admission into Nigerian universities remains 16 years, as reiterated by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa.
“This policy is consistent and non-negotiable. It ensures students are cognitively and emotionally ready for higher academic challenges, regardless of how early they complete secondary school,” she added.
The Ministry urged the public, schools, and media organisations to verify information through official government channels to avoid the spread of misinformation.
