THE Federal Government has announced plans to phase out the policy separating Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) from Senior Secondary Schools (SSS), following concerns that more than 20 million pupils are dropping out before advancing to senior secondary education.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed the proposed reform yesterday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee.
According to the minister, the existing structure, which requires junior and senior secondary schools to operate independently with separate leadership, administration and facilities, has not delivered the expected results. Instead, he said it has contributed to reduced access to education for many Nigerian children.
Alausa revealed that the government identified a significant imbalance in the country’s education system, with about 80,000 public primary schools compared to only 15,000 junior secondary schools.
He explained that the disparity has created a bottleneck in the transition from primary to junior secondary education, leaving millions of children without access to continued schooling.
He noted that the shortage of junior secondary schools has resulted in overcrowded classrooms, while many senior secondary schools remain underutilised. The challenge, he added, is particularly evident in Kaduna State and several other states across northern Nigeria.
Describing the separation policy as unsuccessful, the minister said the Federal Government has resolved to discontinue it in order to improve access to education and ensure more students complete their secondary education.
Alausa said the proposal will be presented to the National Council on Education at its next meeting for consideration and approval.
He described the initiative as part of wider reforms aimed at improving school enrolment, strengthening progression through the education system and enhancing learning outcomes nationwide.
Expressing confidence in the administration’s education agenda, the minister said the government remains committed to addressing longstanding challenges within the sector and ensuring meaningful reforms are implemented.
During the event, Alausa also inaugurated a ministerial committee chaired by Professor Rashid Aderinoye to oversee the implementation of UBEC-funded Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools across the country.
The committee has been tasked with ensuring that the projects are completed, handed over to state governments and opened for academic activities.
Although UBEC has funded hundreds of such schools nationwide, the minister noted that many remain incomplete or have yet to begin operations, describing the situation as an inefficient use of public resources.
Nigeria continues to face one of the world’s largest out-of-school children crises, with millions of children particularly those in rural, underserved and conflict-affected communities still unable to access quality formal education.
Education stakeholders have consistently argued that improving educational outcomes will require not only building more schools but also ensuring existing facilities are adequately equipped, staffed and fully operational.
