Education ministry denies scrapping JSS, SSS, says 12-year system still a proposal

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The Federal Ministry of Education has refuted claims that the Junior and Senior Secondary School system has been scrapped, clarifying that the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, only presented the idea of a 12-year basic education system as a proposal.

A statement issued on Friday by the ministry’s Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, stressed that no official policy change had been made, contrary to reports circulating in the media.

“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,” the statement read.

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Boriowo further explained that a key element of the proposal is the removal of external examinations between JSS and SSS, ensuring a smoother academic transition for students.

However, she noted that this idea is still in the consultation phase and has not been adopted as policy.

To determine the feasibility of the reform, the ministry plans to hold consultations with stakeholders, including state governments, education policymakers, teachers, and parents, over the next eight months. The final decision will be made at the National Council on Education meeting in October 2025.

The ministry urged the public to disregard misleading reports, reaffirming that the government remains committed to improving access to quality education while aligning with global best practices.