The Ministry of Education issued a clarification on Friday regarding recent reports about a new 12-year basic education system, stating that the proposal was simply a suggestion by Minister of Education Tunji Alausa and not an immediate policy change.
Several media outlets had circulated claims that the new policy, which would eliminate the Junior and Senior Secondary School structure, was already in effect. However, the ministry swiftly dismissed these reports, emphasizing that no such changes had been implemented.
In a statement released by the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, the ministry reassured the public that the National Council on Education would thoroughly review the proposal before any final decisions were made.
“At the Extraordinary National Council on Education Meeting held on 6 February 2025 in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, presented a proposal for discussion — not an immediate policy change. The proposal seeks to transition to 12 years of compulsory education while retaining the current 6-3-3 structure.
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“A key aspect of this proposal is to eliminate the examination barrier between JSS and SSS, allowing students to progress seamlessly without external assessments at that stage. However, this remains subject to further consultation and deliberation.
“To ensure a well-informed decision, the ministry will undertake extensive stakeholder engagements over the next eight months, consulting education policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and other key players. The final decision on whether to adopt this reform will be made at the National Council on Education meeting in October 2025.
“The ministry urges the public to disregard false claims that JSS and SSS have been scrapped. The Federal Government remains committed to policies that enhance access to quality education while aligning with global best practices.”
