The Federal Government has introduced a new policy that mandates non-state or private schools to admit only pupils who are at least 12 years old into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1).
This move is part of efforts to ensure uniformity in the education system across the country.
According to the new guideline, pupils are expected to begin nursery school at age three, spend three years in nursery, six years in primary, and three years in junior secondary school, amounting to a total of nine years of basic education. Therefore, by the time they transition into JSS1, they should have attained the age of 12.
The policy is contained in the newly launched Guidelines for the Implementation of Basic Education in Non-State Schools in Nigeria, unveiled by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The document states that all non-state schools must comply with the outlined structure and ensure proper documentation of school records and learners’ data.
The guidelines are also aimed at addressing irregularities in school admission processes, especially in private schools that often admit children below the required age, sometimes resulting in young students gaining early admission into tertiary institutions.
A 2022 Education Data Report cited in the guideline noted that non-state schools were growing at a faster pace than government schools. It emphasised the need for quality assurance and the alignment of private education providers with national education standards.
