FG has set new minimum age for JSS1 admission.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Federal Ministry of Education has introduced a new policy document on Non-State Schools, setting the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School (JSS1) at 12 years, following the completion of six years of primary education.
This Nigeria news platform understands that Non-State Schools, also known as private, independent, or non-governmental schools are not run by the government. They are typically funded through tuition fees, as well as contributions from individuals, corporate bodies, communities, religious organisations, and foundations.
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The newly launched policy emphasises the growing significance of non-state schools in Nigeria’s educational landscape, even as disparities in quality remain across different categories of these schools.
In the policy, the Ministry outlined a structured age progression through the foundational stages of education. It states:
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Nursery education will span three years.
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Children are to be enrolled in Nursery One at age three, Nursery Two at four, and then proceed to one year of compulsory pre-primary education (Kindergarten) at age five, in line with Section 2(17) of the 2013 National Policy on Education (NPE).
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Entry into Primary One is to begin at age six.
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Upon completion of six years of primary education, pupils will become eligible for JSS1 admission at age 12.
This means, if the policy is strictly implemented, Nigerian students would typically reach the age of 18 before qualifying for admission into higher institutions.
The age requirement for university admission has recently sparked public debate. Former Education Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman, had set the minimum entry age at 18, a decision later reversed by the current Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who reinstated the 16-year minimum age.
Data from the Nigeria Education Digest 2022 revealed that non-state schools now outnumber government-owned schools in at least 26 states at the junior secondary level. However, state-owned primary schools still outnumber their non-state counterparts in 19 states.
Between 2017 and 2022, the number of non-state primary schools surged by 31.56%, compared to just 3.3% growth for state primary schools. At the junior secondary level, non-state schools grew by 35.06%, while state schools saw a 6.8% increase over the same period.
The policy underscores the urgent need for better regulation and support for Nigeria’s rapidly expanding non-state education sector.
