Minister of Education Calls for the Scrapping of JSS and SSS
Nigerian Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has called for the removing of Junior Secondary Schools and Senior Secondary in the country, while replacing it with a 12-year Schools uninterrupted basic education.
While speaking at the National Council on Education (NCE) 2025 meeting in Abuja on February 6, the Minister suggested that the current 6-3-3-4 system of education should be replaced with a 12-4 model. In attendance to the meeting included educational commissioners from the 36 states in the country including the FCT, representatives from MDAs and development partners.
The current education system which is 6-3-3-4 is six years of primary education, three years of junior secondary education, three years of senior secondary education then fours of tertiary education or more.
Alausa explained that the new system aims to align Nigeria’s education structure with global standards while setting 16 years as the minimum age for university entry. He emphasized that integrating secondary education into basic education would ensure uninterrupted learning, reducing dropout rates by eliminating financial and systemic obstacles.
He further stated that the policy would help standardize the curriculum, introduce early vocational training, and equip students with essential skills for higher education and employment. If adopted, the reform is expected to enhance economic and social development by reducing child labor and preparing young people for the workforce.
“Extending basic education to 12 years will ensure a standardised curriculum that is uniformly implemented across the nation. This will also facilitate early exposure to vocational and entrepreneurial skills, preparing students for both higher education and employment.
Many developed nations have implemented similar systems where basic education spans 12 years, ensuring that students acquire foundational knowledge before specialising at tertiary levels. This reform also aligns Nigeria’s education system with international standards, fostering better educational outcomes and global competitiveness,” he said.
