The Federal Ministry of Education has said that reports claiming the Junior and Senior Secondary School (JSS and SSS) system has been scrapped are not true.
The ministry explained that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, only suggested a possible change to a 12-year compulsory education system, but no final decision has been made.
Some news reports had earlier said the government had removed the current secondary school structure, but the ministry has now confirmed that this information is wrong.
In an official statement, the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, said that the idea is still under discussion and will need approval from the National Council on Education before any changes happen.
“At the Extraordinary National Council on Education Meeting held on 6 February 2025 in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, 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.
“A key aspect of this proposal is to eliminate the examination barrier between JSS and SSS, allowing students to progress seamlessly without external assessments at that stage. However, this remains subject to further consultation and deliberation.
“To ensure a well-informed decision, the ministry will undertake extensive stakeholder engagements over the next eight months, consulting education policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and other key players. The final decision on whether to adopt this reform will be made at the National Council on Education meeting in October 2025.
“The ministry urges the public to disregard false claims that JSS and SSS have been scrapped. The Federal Government remains committed to policies that enhance access to quality education while aligning with global best practices.”
