The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a new policy setting 12 years as the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) in non‑state (private) schools, applicable after completion of six years of primary education.
The directive is contained in a newly released policy document on Non‑State Schools by the Federal Ministry of Education.
On the topic of nursery progression, the Ministry stated: “Nursery education shall be of three years’ duration.”
“Children shall be admitted into Nursery One when they attain the age of three years, Nursery Two on attaining the age of four, and one year of compulsory pre‑primary education (Kindergarten) on attaining the age of five years, in accordance with the specification of Section 2(17) of the NPE, 2013 Edition.”
Regarding primary and junior secondary schooling, the policy clearly stated:
“Basic education shall be of nine years’ duration. There shall be a six‑year primary and a three‑year Junior Secondary School (JSS). Children shall be admitted into Primary One when they attain the age of six years. Every child must complete six years of primary education. They shall be admitted into Junior Secondary School (JSS1) when they have completed six (6) years of primary education, at around the age of twelve (12) years.”
READ ALSO: Eko DisCo Announces 25-Day Power Outage in Parts of Lagos
By implication, students will now be at least 12 years old before progressing into JSS1, aligning Nigeria’s education ladder into a structured 6‑year primary, 3‑year junior secondary, and onward.
The Federal Ministry of Education in a statement signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, further clarified that the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains ten years.
“Accordingly, no child should complete primary education below the age of 10. Any suggestion to the contrary is misleading and should be disregarded by the public and all education stakeholders, it added.
The statement reads, The Federal Ministry of Education has noted with concern a false and misleading publication in a newspaper claiming that the Federal Government has set a new minimum age of 12 years for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1). The Ministry wishes to categorically state that this report is entirely inaccurate, did not emanate from any official source, and does not reflect government policy.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years. Accordingly, no child should complete primary education below the age of 10. Any suggestion to the contrary is misleading and should be disregarded by the public and all education stakeholders.
“In the same vein, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has reiterated that the prescribed minimum age for admission into Nigerian universities is 16 years. This policy is consistent, non-negotiable, and applies uniformly, regardless of how early a student may have completed secondary education. The ministry maintains that this age benchmark ensures the cognitive and emotional readiness of students for higher academic engagement.
“The Federal Ministry of Education urges the public, educational institutions, and media organisations to always seek clarification from official channels before acting on or publishing unverified information.
“The ministry remains committed to ensuring transparency and developmental appropriateness in the implementation of all educational policies in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The policy expressly targets private schools, recognizing their growing influence in the education sector. Data cited in the document shows that between 2017 and 2022, non‑state primary schools grew by 31.56%, and non‑state junior secondary schools grew by 35.06%, outpacing state institutions.