FG Sets 12 as Minimum Age for JSS1 Admission in New Education Policy

The Federal Government has introduced a new directive setting 12 years as the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1), following the completion of six years of primary education.

This guideline is part of a newly released policy document on Non-State Schools, launched by the Federal Ministry of Education last week.

The policy provides a structured age-based progression system, stating that:

• Nursery education will last for three years:
  • Nursery One: age 3
  • Nursery Two: age 4
  • Pre-primary (Kindergarten): age 5
• Primary education begins at age 6 and runs for six years.
• Junior Secondary School admission begins at around age 12, after completing primary school.

According to the document: “Basic education shall be of nine years’ duration. There shall be a six-year primary and a three-year Junior Secondary School (JSS). Children shall be admitted into JSS1 when they have completed six years of primary education, at around the age of twelve.”

This structure implies that students would complete secondary school at about 18 years, which aligns with the previously recommended age for university entry. Former Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman had declared 18 as the minimum age for university admission, although the current Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has reverted it to 16 years.

The policy also sheds light on the rising role of non-state (private) schools in Nigeria’s education system. These schools, not operated by government authorities, are funded through tuition, community support, religious groups, or private donations.

Data from the Nigeria Education Digest 2022 shows that:

• Non-state schools outnumber public schools in junior secondary education across 26 states.
• At the primary level, however, state-owned schools are still dominant in 19 states.
• Between 2017 and 2022:
  • Non-state primary schools grew by 31.56%
  • State primary schools grew by just 3.3%
  • Non-state junior secondary schools increased by 35.06%
  • State junior secondary schools grew by 6.8%

The Federal Government says the policy aims to harmonize educational standards across both state and non-state schools, while ensuring students progress through the system at developmentally appropriate ages.