FG to Replace JSS and SSS with 12-Year Basic Education System

The Federal Government has announced plans to eliminate the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) structures in Nigeria.

In their place, a compulsory 12-year continuous basic education system will be introduced.

Upon completing the 12-year programme, students will then proceed to institutions of higher learning.

With this policy change, the Nigerian Government will discontinue the 6-3-3-4 education structure and implement a 12-4 system instead.

This information was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the 2025 extraordinary National Council on Education meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

Alausa emphasized that the new policy aligns with internationally recognized best practices.

He stated that this approach aims to reduce student dropout rates by removing both financial and systemic challenges.

“Extending basic education to 12 years will ensure a standardized curriculum that is uniformly implemented across the nation,” Alausa said.

“This will also facilitate early exposure to vocational and entrepreneurial skills, preparing students for both higher education and employment.”

“Many developed nations have implemented similar systems where basic education spans 12 years, ensuring that students acquire foundational knowledge before specializing at tertiary levels.”

“This reform also aligns Nigeria’s education system with international standards, fostering better educational outcomes and global competitiveness,” he added.