The Federal Government has dismissed reports circulating in the media claiming that it has introduced a new minimum age requirement of 12 years for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1).
In a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, the government described the report as false, misleading, and not reflective of official policy.
“The Federal Ministry of Education has noted with concern a false and misleading publication claiming that the Federal Government has set a new minimum age of 12 years for admission into Junior Secondary School 1. The Ministry categorically states that this report is entirely inaccurate, did not emanate from any official source, and does not represent government policy,” the statement read.
The Ministry reaffirmed that the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years. “Accordingly, no child should complete primary education below the age of 10. Any suggestion to the contrary is misleading and should be disregarded by the public and all education stakeholders.”
The statement also reiterated the age requirement for university admission in Nigeria, emphasizing that the prescribed minimum age remains 16 years.
According to the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, this policy is firm and non-negotiable, regardless of how early a student completes secondary education. He explained that the age benchmark is designed to ensure that students are cognitively and emotionally prepared for the challenges of tertiary education.
The Ministry urged the public, schools, and media outlets to verify information through official government channels before taking action or making publications based on unconfirmed reports.
It assured Nigerians of its continued commitment to transparency and the developmental appropriateness of educational policies in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.