Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Education Minister, has advocated for the abolishment of all Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and Senior Secondary Schools throughout the nation, suggesting the implementation of a mandatory 12-year seamless basic education program.
During his address at the 2025 National Council on Education (NCE) conference in Abuja on Thursday, February 6, the Minister made this proposal. The event brought together education commissioners from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), along with MDAs and various development partners.
Alausa emphasized that replacing the current 6-3-3-4 educational framework with a 12-4 structure would transform Nigeria’s educational landscape to meet “international standards.”
Currently, Nigeria employs a 6–3–3–4 educational model, where children begin schooling at six and complete six years each of primary and secondary education, expecting to graduate by age 18.
He stated that the administration seeks the NCE’s consent to establish the age of 16 as the minimum for entering tertiary institutions. By integrating secondary education into basic education, students will benefit from continuous learning until they reach 16.
The minister explained that a 12-year basic education system would “lower dropout percentages by alleviating financial and structural obstacles.” He added that this transformation would “harmonize the curriculum and provide early vocational training, preparing learners for higher education and job opportunities.”
Alausa noted that should this policy be embraced, it would “promote economic and social advancement by equipping youth with essential skills and diminishing child labor.”
“Lengthening basic education to 12 years will ensure a cohesive curriculum applied consistently nationwide. This will also encourage early engagement with vocational and entrepreneurial skills, readying students for both further education and employment.
Numerous developed countries have adopted similar educational frameworks in which basic education lasts 12 years, ensuring students gain essential knowledge before specializing at the tertiary level. This reform aligns Nigeria’s educational system with global standards, enhancing educational outcomes and international competitiveness,” he stated.