Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Education has officially debunked reports that it has fixed 12 years as the new minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) in Nigeria.
The False Claim
News articles published by some newspapers on Friday (not in panatlantickompass.com) and widely circulated on social media platforms had claimed that the Federal Government now requires pupils to be at least 12 years old before being admitted into junior secondary school.
Posts on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram quickly latched on to the widely shared article, asserting that the Federal Government had raised the minimum age for JSS1 from the current 10 years to 12 years. One such post headlined “FG fixes 12 years as minimum age for JSS1 admission” stated that no child under 12 would henceforth be allowed to progress from primary to junior secondary school.
The story sparked confusion among parents, school administrators, and education stakeholders across the country and beyond.
Education Ministry Debunks Viral Reports
But in a swift response, the Ministry of Education issued a formal disclaimer, labelling the reports as “inaccurate, misleading, and not reflective of government policy.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years, not 12 years,” the Ministry stated through its Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo.
The statement further emphasized that the Federal Government has not introduced any new directive altering the existing policy on minimum age for JSS1 admission or any other level.
“The claim that no child below 12 years will be allowed into JSS1 did not emanate from the Ministry or any of its departments,” Mrs. Boriowo noted.
“We urge members of the public and school authorities to disregard the report in its entirety.”
Ministry Reiterates 16 as Minimum University Admission Age
It further reiterated that the minimum age for university admission remains 16 years, a benchmark designed to ensure the cognitive and emotional readiness of students for higher education.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to ensuring that children are enrolled at an age appropriate to their cognitive and emotional development, which is why the 10-year minimum age for JSS1 and 16-year minimum age for university admission have been longstanding benchmarks in the national education policy.
“Let me state clearly that the minimum age for admission into Nigerian universities remains 16 years. This is in line with global best practices and our national education framework,” the Ministry stressed.
Officials also advised schools and stakeholders to seek clarification from authorized sources before implementing or reacting to policy announcements.
“We encourage all educational institutions, parents, media organisations, and the general public to verify any policy changes directly with the Ministry before acting on them,” the statement added.
The Ministry concluded by reaffirming its role in protecting the educational interests of Nigerian children and ensuring policies are guided by developmental appropriateness and global standards.
“The Federal Ministry of Education remains committed to ensuring transparency and the proper implementation of educational guidelines. Any deviation from official policy will always be communicated through recognised and verifiable channels.”
Policy Flip-flop on Education
In July 2024, there was uproar over the official minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The former Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, had announced 18 years as the minimum entry age into universities, citing maturity and readiness concerns. The policy had enraged parents and students nationwide at the time.
However, his successor, Dr. Tunji Alausa, later reverted the controversial policy to 16 years on November 5, 2024, reaffirming it as the established and consistent benchmark in Nigeria’s education system.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that Alausa was appointed Nigeria’s Education Minister after President Bola Tinubu removed Mamman in a cabinet reshuffle.
The Federal Ministry of Education has since reiterated that 16 years remains the official minimum age for university admission in Nigeria, in line with existing national guidelines and global best practices.
Verdict:
Claim that FG fixed 12 years as minimum age for JSS1: FALSE
Official minimum age for JSS1: 10 years
Official minimum age for university admission: 16 years
