FG Migrates to 12 years of Compulsory Education, Retains Current 6-3-3 structure
The Federal Government yesterday announced the introduction of a compulsory 12-year uninterrupted basic education model after which a Nigerian child can aspire to higher education. Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, revealed this at a meeting on Thursday in Abuja during the 2025 extraordinary National Council on Education, NEC. The NCE is the highest policy-making body in the education sector. The event was graced by commissioners for education in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), agencies and parastatals under the Ministry, and development partners. According to the Minister, by subsuming secondary education into basic education, students will benefit from uninterrupted learning up to the age of 16. Alausa said the new policy is in line with global best practices. The reform, he stressed, will also reduce dropout rates by eliminating financial and systemic barriers that currently prevent students from completing secondary education. “Extending basic education to 12 years will ensure a standardized curriculum that is uniformly implemented across the nation,” Alausa said. “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 specializing at tertiary levels. “This reform also aligns Nigeria’s education system with international standards, fostering better educational outcomes and global competitiveness.” He said it will also lead to economic and social impact, adding that “Educated youth contribute significantly to national development. “When students receive an extended period of compulsory education, they are better equipped to join the workforce with relevant skills. This reform will also reduce child labor and other social vices resulting from premature school dropouts.” He highlighted the implementation strategies to successfully integrate secondary education into basic education to include: policy reforms, infrastructure expansion, teacher training and recruitment, funding and partnerships, curriculum enhancement. It would be recalled that late Professor Fafunwa introduced the 6-3-34 system of education. Before then, children started school at age 6, where they were supposed to complete primary education at age 12, and then attend secondary education for 5 years bringing their age to 17 before applying for higher education in tertiary institutions. Highlighting further the ministry’s position, Boriowo Folasade Director, Press and Public Relations noted that JSS and SSS are not Scrapped, rather the Federal Government Proposes 12-Year Compulsory Education within 6-3-3 System. According to him, the attention of the Federal Ministry of Education has been drawn to misleading reports suggesting that the Federal Government has scrapped Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) and replaced them with a new 12-year uninterrupted basic education model. We wish to categorically state that this is not true. At the Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) Meeting held on February 6, 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 migrate to 12 years of compulsory education while retaining the current 6-3-3 structure. A key aspect of this proposal is to eliminate the examination barrier between JSS and SSS, allowing for a seamless transition of students without the hurdles of an external assessment at that stage. However, this is still a subject of consultation and deliberation. To ensure a well-informed decision, the Ministry will undertake extensive stakeholder engagements over the next eight months, consulting widely with education policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and other key players. The final decision on whether to adopt this reform will be made at the October 2025 National Council on Education Meeting. The Ministry urges the public to disregard the false claim 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.