By Victoria Okpanachi
The Federal Government has scrapped the separation between Junior and Senior Secondary School, announcing a shift to a compulsory 12-year uninterrupted basic education model to replace the current 6-3-3-4 structure.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee.
Alausa said the reform is designed to improve access to education, reduce the number of out-of-school children, and ensure every Nigerian child receives 12 years of continuous, quality learning before proceeding to tertiary education or vocational training.
According to him, the new model will remove transition barriers between junior and senior secondary levels, which have been linked to high dropout rates.
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He added that it will create a more seamless learning path, strengthen foundational and vocational skills, and improve student retention nationwide.
The Minister noted that the policy also seeks to standardise curriculum delivery, enhance education quality, and align Nigeria’s system with global best practices.
Introduced in 1982, the 6-3-3-4 structure comprises six years of primary school, three years of junior secondary, three years of senior secondary, and four years of tertiary education.
Under the new arrangement, the JSS and SSS segments will be merged into one 12-year basic education cycle.
Alausa said implementation will involve curriculum review, teacher training, administrative adjustments in schools, and collaboration with state governments and other stakeholders.
The Federal Government said it expects the reform to improve learning outcomes and expand opportunities for millions of Nigerian children, while stakeholders will monitor its rollout closely.
