The Federal Government has announced the elimination of all Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria, replacing them with a compulsory 12-year continuous basic education system.
Following this, students will have the option to pursue higher education.
This change aims to replace the current 6-3-3-4 education structure with a 12-4 system. The government has also proposed that the National Council on Education approve 16 years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, revealed this decision on Thursday in Abuja during the 2025 extraordinary National Council on Education meeting, which is the highest policy-making body in Nigeria’s education sector.
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The meeting was attended by education commissioners from all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), along with representatives from various agencies, parastatals, and development partners.
Dr. Alausa explained that incorporating secondary education into basic education would provide students with uninterrupted learning until they reach the age of 16.
He stressed that the new policy is in line with global best practices and aims to reduce dropout rates by tackling financial and systemic challenges that currently prevent students from completing secondary education.
“Expanding basic education to 12 years will create a standardized curriculum that will be consistently applied across the country,” Alausa said. “This will also allow for earlier exposure to vocational and entrepreneurial skills, preparing students for both higher education and the workforce.”
He pointed out that many developed countries have adopted similar education systems, where basic education spans 12 years, ensuring students acquire essential knowledge before focusing on specialized studies at the tertiary level.
This reform, according to Dr. Alausa, will align Nigeria’s education system with international standards, improve educational outcomes, and enhance global competitiveness.
Additionally, he highlighted that the reform would have significant economic and social impacts.
“Educated youth play a crucial role in national development. When students receive a longer period of compulsory education, they are better prepared to enter the workforce with the necessary skills.
This reform will also help reduce child labor and other social issues caused by premature school dropouts,” he said.
