Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has proposed a major overhaul of the country’s education system by scrapping Junior and Senior Secondary Schools (JSS and SSS) and introducing a compulsory 12-year uninterrupted basic education.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Speaking at the 2025 National Council on Education (NCE) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, February 6, Alausa argued that the current 6-3-3-4 system should be replaced with a 12-4 model, aligning Nigeria’s education structure with global standards. The meeting was attended by education commissioners from all 36 states and the FCT, alongside government agencies and development partners.
Key Proposals:
• 12-Year Basic Education: All students would receive continuous education from primary school until they turn 16, without the division into junior and senior secondary levels.
• New Minimum Entry Age for Tertiary Institutions: The government is seeking NCE approval to set 16 years as the minimum age for university and other higher education admissions.
• Lower Dropout Rates: The uninterrupted system aims to eliminate financial and systemic barriers that force many students out of school.
• Standardized Curriculum & Vocational Training: The proposed model will introduce early vocational and entrepreneurial training, ensuring students are better prepared for higher education, employment, and self-sufficiency.
Global Alignment and Economic Benefits
Alausa emphasized that many developed nations have implemented similar 12-year basic education structures, leading to improved educational outcomes and economic growth. He stressed that this reform would reduce child labor, equip students with essential skills, and make Nigeria’s education system more competitive internationally.
“This will ensure a standardized curriculum, early exposure to vocational skills, and better preparation for higher education and employment,” he stated.
If adopted, this policy would mark a historic shift in Nigeria’s education system, aiming to create a more inclusive and skill-oriented learning environment.
