A new policy from the Federal Ministry of Education setting 12 years as the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School (JSS1) has sparked a fresh wave of national debate over education timelines and access to university in Nigeria.
The directive, contained in a recently released policy document focused on regulating Non-State Schools (popularly known as private schools), aligns with the 2013 National Policy on Education, which recommends six years of primary education beginning at age six, preceded by three years of nursery and pre-primary learning.
According to the Ministry: Nursery education will comprise three years—Nursery One (age 3), Nursery Two (age 4), and Kindergarten (age 5).
Primary education starts at age 6 and spans six years. Entry into JSS1 is permitted only after completing primary school, around age 12.
In practice, this timeline means that students following the structure without interruption would typically qualify for university entry by age 18—a point that has reignited confusion following previous contradictory statements from the Ministry.
Critics of the new directive point to earlier comments by **former Education Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who controversially announced 18 years as the minimum age for university entry. His successor, Dr Tunji Alausa, later reversed the decision, affirming 16 as the official entry age.
Observers now question the logic of the JSS1 policy if, in reality, students cannot reach university before 18 under the outlined structure. The apparent contradiction has led to calls for policy harmonisation within the Ministry.
“We can’t set 12 as the minimum age for JSS1 and still expect most students to be ready for university at 16,” remarked Dr Bisi Oyekan, an education consultant. “It sends conflicting messages to both parents and schools.”
The policy places private schools under intense scrutiny, especially as they now outnumber government schools in at least 26 states at the junior secondary level. Between 2017 and 2022:
Non-state primary schools grew by 31.56%, compared to 3.3% in public schools.
At the JSS level, private schools expanded by 35.06%, while public institutions saw a mere 6.8% growth.
Analysts say this boom reflects parents’ growing preference for private education amid the perceived collapse of public schooling. But questions remain over compliance—will private institutions abide by the federal age directive, or continue to prioritise flexibility and market demands?
Supporters of the new age policy argue that strict age progression enhances learning comprehension, supports emotional maturity, and prevents academic burnout. Many see it as a move toward standardising quality in Nigeria’s chaotic education sector.
However, critics argue that a rigid age system penalises bright children who may be intellectually prepared but fall short on age. In a country regularly plagued by strikes, insecurity, and economic disruption, they say that enforcing such age thresholds may do more harm than good.
“Our education system requires more flexibility, not rigid structures that don’t reflect the reality of our schools and families,” said Adeola Adebayo, head of a private school in Lagos.
The Federal Government now faces the challenge of ensuring enforcement, especially among the thousands of private schools operating across Nigeria. The policy’s long-term implications on tertiary admission trends, school progression rates, and parental decisions remain to be seen.
As stakeholders from across the sector weigh in, one thing is clear—the debate around what age is ‘right’ for education in Nigeria is far from settled.
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