The Federal Government has proposed the abolition of Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS), replacing them with a compulsory 12-year uninterrupted basic education model aimed at ensuring continuous learning and reducing school dropout rates.
Under the new system, Nigerian children will complete 12 years of basic education before aspiring to higher education.
This marks the end of the 6-3-3-4 education system, which will be replaced by a 12-4 model, ensuring a continuous learning process up to the age of 16.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Thursday during the 2025 Extraordinary National Council on Education meeting in Abuja. The meeting was attended by education commissioners from all 36 states and the FCT, alongside representatives of federal education agencies and development partners.
Key Changes and Objectives
Dr. Alausa stated that merging secondary education into basic education aligns with global best practices and will eliminate financial and systemic barriers that often cause school dropouts.
> “Extending basic education to 12 years will ensure a standardized curriculum nationwide, provide early exposure to vocational and entrepreneurial skills, and prepare students for both higher education and employment,” he said.
The new model is also expected to reduce child labor and social vices by keeping students in school longer.
Implementation Strategies
The Minister outlined steps to ensure the successful integration of secondary education into basic education, including:
Policy reforms to legalize the new structure.
Infrastructure expansion to accommodate the extended school years.
Teacher training and recruitment to meet new curriculum demands.
Funding and partnerships with stakeholders to sustain the program.
Curriculum enhancement to incorporate vocational and entrepreneurial skills.
Additionally, the National Council on Education is being asked to approve 16 years as the minimum entry age into tertiary institutions, ensuring that students complete the full 12-year basic education before advancing.
The Federal Government believes this reform will enhance Nigeria’s global educational competitiveness and contribute to economic and social development by producing better-skilled graduates for the workforce.
