The Federal Government has proposed a significant reform of Nigeria’s education structure, recommending the elimination of the current Junior and Senior Secondary School system. Instead, it aims to implement a compulsory 12-year uninterrupted basic education programme.
This proposal was presented by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the 2025 Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
If adopted, the new policy would replace the longstanding 6-3-3-4 education system with a 12-4 model, ensuring students receive continuous education from the primary level through to the completion of basic schooling.
Dr. Alausa also called on the NCE to approve 16 years as the minimum entry age for admission into tertiary institutions across the country.
According to the minister, this shift aligns with global best practices and is designed to provide students with uninterrupted learning up to the age of 16, after which they can pursue higher education opportunities.
“Extending basic education to 12 years will ensure a standardised curriculum that is uniformly implemented across the nation. This will also facilitate early exposure to vocational and entrepreneurial skills, preparing students for both higher education and employment,” he said.
He further emphasized that the policy would help reduce dropout rates by removing financial and systemic challenges that currently hinder students from completing secondary education.