The Federal Government of Nigeria has proposed the elimination of the current Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) system, advocating instead for a 12-year uninterrupted basic education model. This move would see the 6-3-3-4 educational structure replaced with a 12-4 model, where students will undergo a continuous 12-year basic education followed by four years in tertiary institutions.
According to the Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, this proposal was presented at the 2025 extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) meeting held in Abuja. The Minister highlighted that this change would align Nigeria’s educational system with global best practices, ensuring students benefit from uninterrupted learning until the age of 16, before proceeding to higher education.
The new model also seeks to officially set 16 years as the minimum entry age for tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The meeting, attended by Commissioners for Education from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), along with various agencies and development partners, focused on the potential benefits of this system, including better preparation for higher education and life skills.
This initiative follows previous announcements by the Federal Ministry of Education regarding the implementation of a new curriculum for basic education starting in January 2025, aimed at incorporating skills acquisition from the latter part of basic education through secondary schooling. The new curriculum introduces 15 trade subjects, ranging from basic digital literacy to vocational skills like building, plumbing, and GSM repairs, among others.
The government’s commitment to this educational reform is part of a broader effort to achieve Universal Basic Education (UBE) in Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of funding and implementation to transform education at the basic level. This overhaul is seen as a step towards ensuring that Nigerian children are equipped with necessary skills for the 21st century, providing them with opportunities for productive lives post-education.