The Federal Government has ordered an immediate and major Nigeria education system overhaul to curb the critical spike in out of school children Nigeria is currently facing.
The policy shift targets the structural divide between junior and senior arms of secondary education, which authorities blame for a massive drop in student retention. Official data reveals that over 20 million children who begin primary school drop out before completing their senior secondary education.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced the new directive in Abuja during the inauguration of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee. This decision marks a definitive end to the previous structural format, effectively scrapping JSS and SSS as distinct, isolated institutional tiers.
Nigeria has traditionally operated a formal framework known as the 6-3-3-4 system. This structure consists of six years of primary education, three years of junior secondary, three years of senior secondary, and a minimum of four years of tertiary education. The entire framework is divided into three key tiers: Basic Education, Post-Basic/Senior Secondary, and Tertiary Education.
However, Dr. Alausa stated that the arrangement separating Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) from Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) has failed. He noted that the policy has directly worsened the alarming rise of out of school children Nigeria records annually.
Government findings show that while Nigeria has about 80,000 public primary schools, there are only about 15,000 junior secondary schools. This massive deficit creates a transition gap that leaves millions of children stranded after finishing their primary education. According to the minister, the policy requiring JSS and SSS to operate as separate entities has crippled access to classrooms, overcrowding junior schools while leaving senior secondary facilities underutilised.
Dr. Alausa observed that successive administrations failed to tackle the crisis effectively. However, he promised that the Tinubu administration remains determined to reverse the trend through aggressive UBEC basic education reform strategies. Citing clear evidence from Kaduna and several northern states, the minister explained that the disarticulation policy merely created unnecessary administrative structures at the expense of student retention.
Dr. Alausa stated: “About 24million children enrol in our primary schools, but only about 4million of them complete senior secondary. We have over 20 million children dropping out between primary school and junior secondary school. Where are those students?
“The previous governments may have failed in this regard, but this government will not fail. We are fixing this. We need to create more opportunities for children to move seamlessly through the education system.
“We have overflowing junior secondary schools and empty senior secondary schools. I can objectively report today that this disarticulation policy has failed. We will phase it out. We cannot continue creating administrative positions while damaging our education system. It is about doing what is best for every Nigerian child.”
The proposal for this sweeping Nigeria education system overhaul will be presented at the next National Council on Education meeting for formal ratification.
Alongside scrapping JSS and SSS separations, the minister inaugurated a high-powered committee led by education expert Prof. Rashid Aderinoye. The team will fast-track the completion, handover, and operation of hundreds of Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools, and Alternative Schools funded by UBEC nationwide.
The minister expressed deep concern that despite heavy public investment, many facilities remain abandoned or locked. He described the situation as a waste of scarce public resources and a denial of learning opportunities for young citizens.
“The purpose of these schools is to educate children, not to remain locked up after completion,” he said, tasking the committee to clear administrative bottlenecks quickly.
Earlier, UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, highlighted recent progress in expanding access to quality learning via the UBEC basic education reform agenda. She revealed that 37 Smart Schools have been established nationwide, with 24 already functional, while others are undergoing final furnishing.
Under the UBEC-Islamic Development Bank Bilingual Education Programme, 30 schools have been built across nine states. Three boarding schools are already open, and four others await formal inauguration. Garba noted that the Alternative Schools Programme continues to offer flexible, inclusive learning models for vulnerable groups.
Responding for the committee, Prof. Rashid Aderinoye promised diligent, transparent execution to eliminate project delays and drastically improve learning access across Nigeria.
