NIGERIA: FG Debunk Rumours On Scrapping JSS, SSS System

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Federal Ministry of Education has debunked the report that the federal government has scrapped the Junior and Senior Secondary School (JSS and SSS) system , clarifying that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, only proposed a 12-year compulsory education system during an Extraordinary National Council on Education Meeting held on 6th of February, 2025, in Abuja.

This was contained in a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, in which the government emphasized that the proposal is still under review and has not been implemented as an official policy.

The statement reads: “The Honourable Minister presented a proposal for discussion — not an immediate policy change. The proposal seeks to transition to 12 years of compulsory education while retaining the current 6-3-3 structure.”

The ministry further explained that a key component of the proposal is the removal of external examinations between JSS and SSS, allowing students to progress seamlessly without external assessments at that stage.

However, it was noted that the policy will undergo extensive consultations with education policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders before any final decision is made at the National Council on Education meeting in October 2025.

The ministry urged the public to disregard false reports and assured Nigerians that the government remains committed to policies that enhance access to quality education while aligning with global best practices.