The federal government of Nigeria has adamantly opposed extending the age requirement from 10 to 12 years old for admission to the nation’s junior secondary schools (JSS).
Additionally, the government stated that 16 years old is still the minimum age needed to enroll in colleges and other postsecondary educational institutions.
The clarifications were reportedly provided by Education Minister Tunji Alausa in a statement released on Saturday.
He criticized the Punch Newspaper for releasing an inaccurate and deceptive report stating that the Federal Government had established a new minimum age of 12 years for Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) admission.
“This report did not come from any official source and does not represent the federal government’s policy,” Alausa explained.
For this reason, he asked the public to ignore the first news.
The Federal Ministry of Education expressed concern over a false and misleading article in The Punch Newspaper that claimed the Federal Government had set a new minimum age of 12 years for admission to Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1). The Ministry would want to make it clear that this claim is completely untrue, doesn’t represent government policy, and didn’t come from any official source.
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The minimum age requirement for admission to JSSl is still 10 years old, just to be clear. In light of this, no child should finish primary school before the age of 10. Contrary suggestions are deceptive and ought to be ignored by the general public and all parties involved in education.
Likewise, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Honourable Minister of Education, has reaffirmed that 16 is the minimum age required to be admitted to Nigerian campuses. Regardless of how early a kid may have finished secondary school, this regulation is uniform, firm, and non-negotiable. This age guideline, according to the Ministry, guarantees that pupils are emotionally and cognitively prepared for increased academic involvement.
The public, educational institutions, and media outlets are urged by the Federal Ministry of Education to always seek clarification through official channels before acting upon or disseminating unconfirmed information. According to the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Ministry is still dedicated to making sure that all educational policies are implemented with openness and developmental appropriateness into account.
