The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has proposed scrapping the Junior and Senior Secondary School divisions in favor of a compulsory 12-year uninterrupted basic education system.
Speaking at the 2025 National Council on Education (NCE) meeting in Abuja on February 6, he emphasized that replacing Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 structure with a 12-4 model would align the education system with global standards.
This reform, he stated, would ensure that students remain in school until the age of 16, providing them with a more structured and standardized curriculum.
“Extending basic education to 12 years will ensure a standardized curriculum that is uniformly implemented across the nation,” Alausa said.
The minister also highlighted that the government is seeking approval to set 16 years as the minimum entry age for tertiary institutions.
According to him, merging secondary education into basic education would eliminate financial and systemic barriers that contribute to dropout rates.
Furthermore, he pointed out that a continuous 12-year learning period would expose students to vocational and entrepreneurial skills at an earlier stage, thereby preparing them for both higher education and employment.
“This will also facilitate early exposure to vocational and entrepreneurial skills, preparing students for both higher education and employment,” he stated.
Alausa stressed that the proposed education system would enhance economic and social development by equipping students with relevant skills while reducing child labor.
He also noted that many developed countries have adopted similar models, ensuring that students acquire foundational knowledge before proceeding to specialized fields.
“Many developed nations have implemented similar systems where basic education spans 12 years, ensuring that students acquire foundational knowledge before specializing at tertiary levels,” he explained.
Moreover, he emphasized that this reform would make Nigeria’s education sector more competitive on a global scale, ensuring better learning outcomes for students.
While this initiative presents a significant step toward educational advancement, it requires strong support from parents, students, and the government to be successfully implemented.
The transition to a 12-year basic education system would demand policy adjustments, increased funding, and infrastructure improvements.
However, if adopted, it could reshape Nigeria’s education landscape, ensuring that young people receive the skills necessary to thrive in an evolving world.
