The Federal Ministry of Education has debunked claims that the Federal Government has scrapped Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS), clarifying that a proposal for a 12-year compulsory education within the existing 6-3-3 system is under consideration.
A statement issued on Wednesday, 7th February 2025, by the Director of Press & Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, refuted misleading reports suggesting an overhaul of the current education structure.
“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,” the statement read.
The clarification follows discussions at the Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) Meeting held on 6th February 2025 in Abuja, where the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, presented a proposal advocating for 12 years of compulsory education while maintaining the existing 6-3-3 structure.
A key feature of the proposal is the removal of the examination barrier between JSS and SSS to facilitate a seamless transition for students without external assessments at that stage.
However, the Ministry stressed that this remains 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 statement added.
The Ministry urged the public to disregard the false claim that JSS and SSS have been abolished, reaffirming the government’s commitment to policies that enhance access to quality education while aligning with global best practices.
