On Thursday, February 6, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, in addressing the 2025 extraordinary meeting of the National Council on Education (NCE) in Abuja, advocated the adoption of a 12-year basic education model to scrap secondary schools in Nigeria.
This meeting convened educational commissioners from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alongside representatives from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as other development partners.
The Minister, Alausa, articulated the intention to phase out the existing 6-3-3-4 educational model and to implement a new 12-4 system, which aims to reform the educational framework in Nigeria to align with international standards.
Under the current 6-3-3-4 model, children begin their educational journey at the age of six, completing six years of primary education followed by six years of secondary education, ideally graduating at the age of 18.
Alausa indicated that the government seeks the approval of the NCE to establish 16 years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions.
He emphasized that integrating secondary schools into the basic education framework would ensure continuous learning for students until they reach 16 years of age. The Minister asserted that a comprehensive 12-year basic education system would mitigate dropout rates by eliminating financial and systemic obstacles.
He noted that the adoption of this policy is anticipated to bolster economic and social development by equipping young individuals with relevant skills and decreasing instances of child labor. Key strategies for implementation will encompass policy reforms, infrastructure expansion, teacher training, and curriculum development.