The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that the proposed introduction of a 12-year basic education system remains under discussion and has not yet been implemented as official policy.
Addressing recent reports that suggested an immediate overhaul of the Junior and Senior Secondary School structure, the ministry stated that no such decision had been made. It emphasized that the proposal, presented by Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, is still subject to extensive review and stakeholder consultation.
According to a statement released by the ministry’s Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, the proposal was introduced at an Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) meeting held on February 6, 2025, in Abuja. However, it has not yet been approved.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, proposed a framework for discussion, not an immediate policy shift,” the statement read. “The plan aims to establish 12 years of uninterrupted basic education while retaining the existing 6-3-3 structure.”
A significant element of the proposal involves removing the external examination requirement between Junior and Senior Secondary School levels. This would allow students to progress without additional assessment hurdles at that stage. However, the ministry stressed that this aspect of the reform is still under evaluation and will be shaped by further deliberation.
To ensure an inclusive decision-making process, the Federal Ministry of Education will engage with key stakeholders—including state governments, education policymakers, teachers, and parents—over the next eight months. The final decision on the proposed reform is expected at the National Council on Education meeting in October 2025.
In light of widespread speculation, the ministry urged the public to disregard misinformation suggesting that the Junior and Senior Secondary School system has already been scrapped. It reiterated the government’s commitment to policies that improve access to quality education while aligning with global best practices.
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