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

As a replacement, a compulsory 12-year uninterrupted basic education system will be introduced, after which students will proceed to higher institutions.

With this reform, the government will replace the current 6-3-3-4 education structure with a 12-4 model.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, revealed this during the 2025 extraordinary National Council on Education meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

Alausa emphasized that the new policy aligns with global best practices and aims to reduce dropout rates by removing financial and systemic barriers.

“Extending basic education to 12 years will ensure a standardized curriculum nationwide, facilitate early exposure to vocational and entrepreneurial skills, and prepare students for both higher education and employment,” he said.

He added that many developed nations have similar systems, ensuring students acquire foundational knowledge before specializing at the tertiary level. The reform, he noted, will enhance Nigeria’s global educational competitiveness.