The Nigerian government has replaced the Junior and Senior Secondary School (JSS and SSS) system with a unified 12-year basic education model.
Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa announced the reform on Thursday during an extraordinary session of the National Council on Education (NCE) in Abuja. Under the new structure, students will complete a continuous 12-year education cycle before moving on to higher education. This change replaces the previous 6-3-3-4 system with a streamlined 12-4 model.
The government has also proposed setting 16 as the minimum entry age for tertiary institutions, pending approval from the NCE, the highest policymaking body for education.
Dr. Alausa explained that integrating secondary education into the basic education framework would ensure uninterrupted learning up to age 16, aligning Nigeria’s system with global standards. He emphasized that the model would establish a standardized national curriculum and introduce early vocational training, better preparing students for higher education or the workforce.
The minister highlighted key benefits of the reform, including lower dropout rates, reduced financial and bureaucratic barriers, and a decline in child labor and youth unemployment linked to incomplete schooling.
“Many developed nations follow similar 12-year foundational education systems,” Alausa said, noting that the new structure aims to enhance Nigeria’s global educational competitiveness. “Extending compulsory education will produce more skilled graduates, driving national development.”
The overhaul represents one of Nigeria’s most significant education reforms in decades, focusing on equitable access, skill development, and readiness for 21st-century challenges.