By Kofoworola Fakeye, JKNewsMedia Reporter
NIGERIA’s EDUCATION system is set for a major overhaul as the Federal Government (FG) announced the abolition of the separation between Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS), replacing the 6-3-3-4 structure with a compulsory 12-year uninterrupted basic education model.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced the reform on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Universal Basic Education Commission Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee for Smart Schools (UBEC-MIMC-SS), Bilingual Schools and Alternate Schools in Abuja.
Alausa also said the reform is aimed at improving access to education, reducing the number of out of school children and ensuring that every Nigerian child receives 12 years of continuous quality education before progressing to tertiary institutions or vocational training.
The minister said the FG would also phase out the disarticulation policy separating JSS from SSS, describing the arrangement as a failed experiment that has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s growing education crisis.
He raised concerns over the country’s dropout figures, revealing that nearly 20 million pupils leave the education system between primary school and junior secondary school.
According to Alausa, the imbalance in the country’s school infrastructure has worsened access to education, particularly at the transition from primary school to secondary school.
He said the new model is designed to remove the transition barriers between junior and senior secondary education that have contributed to high dropout rates among students.
Alausa said the uninterrupted 12-year system would provide a more seamless learning experience, strengthen foundational and vocational skills and improve student retention across the country.
He added that the reform also seeks to standardise curriculum delivery, enhance education quality and better align Nigeria’s school system with global best practices.
JKNewsMedia.com also reports that the minister said implementation of the policy would involve curriculum reforms, teacher training, adjustments to school administration and collaboration with state governments and other stakeholders.
In addition, the FG said the existing 6-3-3-4 system, introduced in 1982, comprises six years of primary education, three years of junior secondary school, three years of senior secondary school and four years of tertiary education.
He added that under the new arrangement, the JSS and SSS divisions will be merged into a single 12-year basic education programme.
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