The Federal Government has introduced a proposal for a 12-year basic education model but has denied claims that it plans to abolish Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS).
According to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Education’s Director of Press, Folashade Boriowo, the proposal was presented for discussion, not as an immediate policy change.
Minister of Education Tunji Alausa clarified the proposal at the Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, addressing what the ministry described as misleading reports suggesting the government’s intention to eliminate JSS and SSS in favor of a new structure.
“The attention of the Federal Ministry of Education has been drawn to misleading reports claiming the Federal Government has scrapped Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) in favor of a new 12-year uninterrupted basic education model. We categorically state that these reports are false,” the ministry’s statement said.
The proposal aims to shift toward 12 years of compulsory education while maintaining the existing 6-3-3 structure. Boriowo explained that the intent of the proposal is to eliminate barriers between JSS and SSS, enabling a smoother transition for students without the need for external assessments at that stage.
“This is still under consultation and deliberation,” the statement emphasized.
The ministry clarified that discussions with key stakeholders would continue before any final decision is made, with a resolution expected at the National Council on Education Meeting in October 2025.
The Federal Ministry of Education also urged the public to disregard the rumors surrounding the scrapping of JSS and SSS. “The Federal Government remains committed to policies that improve access to quality education while aligning with global best practices,” the statement concluded.
