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The Federal Government has announced plans to phase out the policy that separates Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) from Senior Secondary Schools (SSS), citing alarming data showing that more than 20 million Nigerian children drop out of school before reaching the senior secondary level. Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed the move while inaugurating the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee in Abuja.
According to the minister, government data revealed a major structural imbalance in the education system. Nigeria currently has about 80,000 public primary schools but only around 15,000 junior secondary schools, creating a significant bottleneck that prevents millions of pupils from progressing after primary education. He said the separation policy has led to overcrowded JSS facilities while many senior secondary schools remain underutilized.
Alausa explained that the government intends to integrate the transition process between primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary education to reduce dropout rates and improve access. The reform is part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s education system and address the country’s out-of-school children crisis, one of the largest in the world.
The proposal follows earlier discussions on a 12-year uninterrupted basic education model, although the Federal Government previously clarified that it had not formally scrapped the existing 6-3-3-4 system. Rather, officials said reforms are aimed at improving continuity in education and ensuring that more children remain in school through the secondary level.
If implemented, education stakeholders believe the policy could significantly improve student retention, reduce overcrowding in junior secondary schools, and help millions of Nigerian children complete their secondary education. The government is expected to work with states, education agencies, and other stakeholders to determine the framework and timeline for the transition.
