The Federal Government has announced plans to discontinue the policy that separates Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) from Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) following concerns over the growing number of students dropping out before completing secondary education.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in Abuja during the inauguration of the UBEC Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee.
According to the minister, findings revealed that more than 20 million pupils fail to progress from primary school to junior secondary school, while the current structure has also created a shortage of junior secondary schools across the country.
He explained that Nigeria has about 80,000 public primary schools but only around 15,000 junior secondary schools, resulting in overcrowded classrooms at the JSS level and underutilised senior secondary school facilities in many areas.
Alausa said the existing arrangement, which requires junior and senior secondary schools to operate independently with separate management and facilities, has not delivered the intended results.
He stated that the government would move to phase out the policy, stressing that educational reforms should prioritise the interests of Nigerian children rather than administrative considerations.
The minister disclosed that a proposal to formally abolish the policy would be presented at the next meeting of the National Council on Education for approval.
He added that the reform is expected to improve students’ transition from primary to secondary education, expand access to learning and reduce the country’s high dropout rate.
During the event, Alausa also inaugurated a committee led by Prof. Rashid Aderinoye to supervise the implementation of UBEC-funded Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools across the country.
The committee has been tasked with ensuring that the projects are completed, transferred to state governments and made operational for learners.
The minister expressed concern that many of the schools funded under the programme have remained unfinished or are yet to begin academic activities, describing the situation as an inefficient use of public funds.
Nigeria continues to face one of the highest rates of out-of-school children globally, with millions of children, particularly in rural and conflict-affected communities, still lacking access to quality education.
