Again, FG Sets New Minimum Age For JSS1 Admission After Six Years Of Primary School
The Federal Ministry of Education has introduced a new policy for Non-State Schools, setting the entry age for pupils seeking admission into Junior Secondary Schools at 12 years old after completing six years of primary education.
The policy document outlines the structure for basic education, which includes six years of primary education and three years of Junior Secondary School (JSS).
According to a policy document, non-state schools are playing an increasingly significant role in delivering education across the country, despite noticeable disparities in the quality of education offered among the different school categories.
On the issue of enrolment age, the Federal Ministry of Education stated, “Nursery education shall be of three years’ duration.”
“Children shall be admitted into Nursery One when they attain the age of three years, Nursery Two on attaining the age of four, and one year of compulsory pre-primary education (Kindergarten) on attaining the age of five years, in accordance with the specification of Section 2(17) of the NPE, 2013 Edition,” it said.
On the age of enrolment for junior secondary schools, the policy clearly stated that, “Basic education shall be of nine years’ duration. There shall be a six-year primary and a three-year Junior Secondary School (JSS). Children shall be admitted into Primary One when they attain the age of six years.
“Every child must complete six years of primary education. They shall be admitted into Junior Secondary School (JSS1) when they have completed six (6) years of primary education, at around the age of twelve (12) years.”
If implemented strictly, this policy would mean that Nigerian learners would be around 18 years old before being qualified for entrance into higher institutions. This development comes amid recent controversies over the mandatory age of entry into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Non-State Schools, also known as independent or private schools, are educational institutions not managed by the government.
According to the Nigeria Education Digest 2022, Non-State Schools outnumber state schools in at least 26 states of the federation at the Junior Secondary level.
The growth in the number of Non-State Schools between 2017 and 2022 has been faster than that of state schools, with Non-State primary schools growing by 31.56% and Junior Secondary schools growing by 35.06% during the same period.
It said, “Non-state schools outnumber state schools in at least 26 states of the federation at the Junior Secondary level, whereas at the primary level, state schools outnumber non-state schools in 19 states of the federation.
“The growth in the number of non-state schools between 2017 and 2022 (the last five years reported) has been faster than that of state schools.
“Non-state primary schools grew in number by 31.56 per cent between 2017 and 2022, while state schools grew in number by 3.3 per cent within the same period.
“At the Junior Secondary level, non-state schools grew in number by 35.06 per cent between 2017 and 2022, while state schools grew in number by 6.8 per cent only within the same period.”
