FG Sets 12 Years as Minimum Age for JSS1 Admission

The Federal Government has officially set 12 years as the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1), following the completion of six years of primary education.

This directive is outlined in a new policy document on Non-State Schools, recently launched by the Federal Ministry of Education. Non-state schools also referred to as private, independent, or non-government schools are institutions not run by the government and are typically funded through tuition fees, donations, and support from individuals, religious bodies, communities, or charitable organizations.

The policy emphasizes the growing role of these schools in Nigeria’s education system, despite noticeable variations in standards and quality.

According to the Ministry, early childhood education is structured as follows: three years of nursery (with entry into Nursery One at age three and Nursery Two at age four), followed by a mandatory one-year pre-primary (Kindergarten) at age five, in line with Section 2(17) of the 2013 National Policy on Education.

For basic education, which spans nine years, children are to begin Primary One at age six and complete six years of primary school before progressing to JSS1 at about 12 years old.

This structure implies that students would typically complete secondary school at age 18, which aligns with the previously proposed university entry age. Former Education Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman, had set 18 as the minimum age for university admission, though the current minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has since adjusted the requirement back to 16 years.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Education Digest 2022 highlights the increasing enrollment in non-state schools, especially at the junior secondary level.

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