The Federal Ministry of Education has announced a new policy establishing 12 years as the minimum age for pupils seeking admission into Junior Secondary School One (JSS1) in non-state schools across Nigeria. The directive, which applies to private, independent, and faith-based schools, follows the completion of the mandatory six-year primary education programme.
The new regulation is outlined in a policy document on Non-State Schools launched by the ministry last week. The initiative aims to standardise operations within Nigeria’s growing non-state education sector and ensure consistency in enrolment practices nationwide.
According to the ministry, the age-based progression should begin with Nursery One at age three, followed by Nursery Two at age four, and a compulsory one-year kindergarten programme at age five. Primary education begins at age six and spans six years, after which pupils are expected to enter JSS1 at approximately age 12.
“Every child must complete six years of primary education,” the policy document states. “They shall be admitted into Junior Secondary School (JSS1) when they have completed six years of primary education, at around the age of 12.”
If fully implemented, the policy would mean that learners in Nigeria may not become eligible for university admission until they are at least 18 — a development that has fueled ongoing debate about age and academic readiness. In 2023, then Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, declared 18 as the minimum age for university entry, citing the need for maturity and preparedness. However, his successor, Dr. Tunji Alausa, later reverted the entry age to 16.
The new policy also underscores the rising influence of non-state schools in Nigeria’s education system. According to the Nigeria Education Digest 2022, non-state institutions now outnumber government schools at the junior secondary level in at least 26 states. However, state-owned schools remain more prevalent at the primary level in 19 states.
Between 2017 and 2022, the number of non-state primary schools rose by 31.56%, compared to a modest 3.3% increase in state-owned primary schools. At the junior secondary level, non-state schools grew by 35.06%, while their public counterparts saw just 6.8% growth.
While the ministry acknowledged that non-state schools are helping bridge educational gaps, it also expressed concern over the inconsistent quality of instruction, emphasising the need for standardised regulations and improved oversight across the sector.
