The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that the recent proposal for a 12-year compulsory education system does not involve the scrapping of Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS).

This clarification follows reports in the media that the 6-3-3-4 system had been scrapped, prompting the ministry to issue a statement.

During the Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) meeting held on February 6, 2025, in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, presented a proposal to move towards a 12-year compulsory education system while retaining the existing 6-3-3 structure.

“This proposal seeks to eliminate the examination barrier between JSS and SSS, allowing for a seamless transition of students without the hurdles of an external assessment at that stage,” the ministry stated in a press release.

The ministry emphasised that this is a proposal under consideration and that extensive consultations will be conducted with stakeholders, including state governments, teachers, parents, and other key players, over the next eight months.

“The final decision on whether to adopt this reform will be made at the October 2025 National Council on Education Meeting,” the release added.

The Ministry urged the public to disregard misleading reports suggesting that JSS and SSS have been scrapped.