FG Sets New Minimum Age of 12 Years for JSS1 Admission
FG Sets New Minimum Age of 12 Years for JSS1 Admission
A new policy document on Non-State Schools, unveiled last week by the Federal Ministry of Education, has set the minimum entry age for pupils transitioning to Junior Secondary School at 12, following the completion of six years of primary education.
Non-State Schools—also known as private, independent, or non-government schools—are educational institutions not run by the government. These schools are typically funded through tuition fees, as well as donations from individuals, businesses, communities, religious organisations, and foundations.
The policy highlights the growing role of non-state schools in Nigeria’s education system, even though there are notable disparities in the quality of education provided across different types of these institutions.
Speaking on the age of enrolment, the Federal Ministry of Education said, “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.”
On the age of enrolment for junior secondary schools, the policy clearly stated that, “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.”
If fully implemented, the new policy means that Nigerian students would reach the appropriate age of 18 before becoming eligible to enter tertiary institutions.
This comes amid ongoing debates over the required minimum age for university admission in Nigeria. Former Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, had earlier set the minimum age at 18. However, the current Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, later reversed the decision, reinstating 16 as the minimum entry age for university admission.
According to the Nigeria Education Digest 2022, published by the Federal Ministry of Education, non-state schools outnumber government-run schools in at least 26 states at the Junior Secondary School level. In contrast, state-owned schools outnumber non-state schools in 19 states at the primary school level.
The report also revealed that the growth of non-state schools has outpaced that of government schools over the past five years. Between 2017 and 2022, the number of non-state primary schools increased by 31.56 per cent, compared to just 3.3 per cent growth in state-owned primary schools. At the Junior Secondary level, non-state schools saw a 35.06 per cent increase during the same period, while state schools recorded a growth of only 6.8 per cent.
