The Federal Government has refuted claims that it has scrapped the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) structure, clarifying that the existing system remains unchanged.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, addressed the issue on Friday, stating that misleading reports circulating in some media outlets had misrepresented the government’s proposal.
He explained that the Ministry only introduced a concept for discussion, not an immediate policy implementation.
“The federal government has not scrapped JSS and SSS,” Alausa stated while briefing journalists. “What we have presented is a proposal for a 12-year uninterrupted basic education system within the existing 6-3-3 framework, and it is still under deliberation.”
The discussion arose during the Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, where Alausa introduced a plan for a transition to 12 years of compulsory education.
One key feature of the proposal, he explained, is the elimination of the examination requirement between JSS and SSS, allowing students to progress without external assessments at that stage. However, he emphasized that this is still subject to review.
“This is not an immediate change but a topic for engagement with stakeholders,” he added. “Over the next eight months, we will hold extensive consultations with policymakers, state governments, teachers, and parents. A final decision will be reached at the National Council on Education meeting in October 2025.”
The Minister urged the public to disregard misinformation and assured that any changes to the educational system would be based on thorough discussions and national consensus.
