The Federal Government has announced a new education policy that officially fixes the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School (JSS1 ) at 12 years, following the completion of six years of primary education.
The policy, launched last week by the Federal Ministry of Education, is targeted at non-state schools — also known as private or independent schools — which are run by individuals, organisations, religious institutions and communities rather than by the government.
According to the document, the move aims to address the increasing trend of rushing children through school before they are mentally and emotionally ready for the demands of secondary education.
Under the revised structure, nursery education will now last for three years — with entry into Nursery One at age three, followed by Nursery Two at age four and a compulsory pre-primary year (Kindergarten) at age five. Primary education is expected to begin at age six and run for six years. Only after completing this cycle will a child be eligible for JSS1 — at age 12.
If fully implemented, the policy will see students completing secondary school at around 18 years, aligning with the previously suggested minimum university entry age by former Education Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman. Though his successor, Dr. Tunji Alausa, later revised the university entry age back to 16, this new policy could prompt a national rethink on academic progression timelines.
The Ministry also emphasized the growing presence of private schools in Nigeria’s education system. Based on the Nigeria Education Digest 2022, private schools now outnumber government schools in 26 states at the Junior Secondary level. At the primary level, however, state schools remain dominant in 19 states.
Between 2017 and 2022, private primary schools increased by 31.56 percent, and private junior secondary schools grew by 35.06 percent, compared to just 3.3 percent and 6.8 percent growth in state schools at the same levels.
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The Federal Government says the new age requirement is a bold step to ensure age-appropriate learning and reduce pressure on students, while also supporting better learning outcomes in the long run
