Tunji Alausa, minister of Education has clarified that federal government is yet to scrap secondary education, and reinforce 12-year basic education model.
Gatekeepers News reports that Alausa said the National Council on Education (NCE) will decide on its proposed adoption of a 12-year basic school model in October 2025.
Gatekeepers News reports that the minister made the clarification in a statement on Friday by Folasade Boriowo, the director of press at the education ministry.
He refuted reports that the federal government has already scrapped secondary education as part of the policy.
Recall that earlier reports stated that the education ministry was considering a 12-year basic education model in a reform that could eliminate the traditional distinction between primary and secondary levels.
Alausa said he only presented a proposal for discussion and not an immediate policy change at the NEC meeting on February 6.
He noted that the proposal seeks to migrate to 12 years of compulsory education while retaining the current 6-3-3-4 education structure.
The minister said a key aspect of this proposal is to eliminate the examination barrier between JSS and SSS, allowing for a smooth transition of students without the need for external assessment at that stage.
Alausa reiterated that this suggestion was still a subject of consultation and deliberation.
He said, “To ensure a well-informed decision, the ministry will undertake extensive stakeholder engagements over the next eight months, consulting widely with education policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and other key players.”
“The final decision on whether to adopt this reform will be made at the October 2025 NEC meeting.”
The minister urged the public to disregard the false claim that junior and senior secondary schools have been scrapped.
He reaffirmed federal government’s commitment to policies that enhance access to quality education in line with global best practices.
