The Federal Government has announced that the National Council on Education (NCE) will determine the adoption of a proposed 12-year basic education system in October 2025.
This clarification was made in a statement released on Friday by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, through the ministry’s Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo. Alausa refuted claims that the government had already scrapped secondary education as part of the proposed reform.
Earlier reports suggested that the Ministry of Education was considering a shift to a 12-year basic education model, potentially eliminating the traditional separation between primary and secondary levels. However, Alausa clarified that this was only a proposal for discussion, not an immediate policy change.
The minister explained that the reform aims to introduce 12 years of compulsory education while maintaining the existing 6-3-3-4 system. A key aspect of the proposal is removing the examination barrier between Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS), allowing students to transition smoothly without external assessments at that stage.
Alausa emphasized that the proposal is still under consultation, with extensive stakeholder engagement planned over the next eight months. The ministry will seek input from education policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and other key stakeholders before making a final decision.
“The final decision on whether to adopt this reform will be made at the October 2025 NCE meeting,” Alausa stated.
He also urged the public to disregard false claims that junior and senior secondary schools have been scrapped, reaffirming the government’s commitment to expanding access to quality education while aligning with global best practices.
