The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Friday, said the government would engage stakeholders over the proposed 12-year basic education model.
Alausa made this known during a press briefing in Abuja.
Alausa had during the Extraordinary National Council on Education Meeting in Abuja on Thursday, presented a proposal that aims to transition to 12 years of compulsory education within the existing 6-3-3 system.
However, he said at the briefing that the proposal was for discussion, and not an immediate policy shift.
A major feature of the proposal, according to Alausa, was the removal of the examination barrier between JSS and SSS, allowing students to progress seamlessly without the need for external assessments at that stage.
The minister said the proposal was still under consultation, adding that its implementation depended on further deliberation.
According to him, over the next eight months, the ministry will engage in extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and others.
A final decision, he said would be made at the National Council on Education Meeting in October 2025.
The minister revealed that the council also approved other significant initiatives, including a national anti-bullying policy, the use of native languages in primary education, and policies for minimum age requirements for admission to tertiary institutions.
The goal, he said was to emulate global best practices seen in countries like the US, the UK, and Ghana, where 12 years of education are compulsory, leading to improved educational outcomes.
Alausa further noted that the government was committed to ensuring the new policy does not disrupt the educational sector and would involve extensive stakeholder consultations before making a final decision.
“The minister said, “What we are saying is that we need to move from what we have now as nine years compulsory education to 12 years of compulsory education, as it’s obtained in other parts of the world.
“If you look back into the history of Nigeria, 30 years ago, people that went to the primary education there and got up to standard six, if you compare the level of education, the level of instruction, even the standard three then, it’s much better than what we get in GSS three now.
“Today, our quality of instruction and education is falling. If we let these kids continue to graduate, if we let these children tell them that they only have nine years of compulsory education, we’re literally just training illiterates. We’re not preparing them for the future.”
Additionally, he said there will be efforts to improve funding, particularly for early childhood education, and strengthen the quality of public schools, in order to equip students with the skills necessary for success in life, whether in further education or the workforce.
