The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that no immediate changes have been made to the Junior and Senior Secondary School (JSS and SSS) system, countering reports suggesting their abolition.
In a statement on Friday, the ministry explained that Education Minister Tunji Alausa only presented a proposal for a 12-year compulsory education system, which is still under review.
Media reports had claimed that the government had already implemented a policy scrapping the existing JSS and SSS structure. However, the ministry, through its Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, stressed that the proposal remains subject to deliberation by the National Council on Education.
“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 statement read.
According to the proposal, students would transition seamlessly within the 6-3-3 system without external examinations between JSS and SSS. However, this adjustment will undergo extensive consultations over the next eight months, involving education policymakers, state governments, teachers, and parents. A final decision is expected at the National Council on Education meeting in October 2025.
The ministry urged the public to disregard false claims, reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving access to quality education in line with global standards.