FG to scrap JSS, SSS Structure
The Federal Government has announced plans to end the separation of junior secondary schools (JSS) and senior secondary schools (SSS) as part of efforts to tackle the growing number of children leaving school before completing their basic education.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the announcement on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Universal Basic Education Commission Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee in Abuja.
According to the minister, findings by the government showed that more than 20 million children fail to move from primary school to junior secondary school.
He said the situation is largely due to the shortage of junior secondary schools across the country.
Alausa explained that Nigeria currently has about 80,000 public primary schools but only around 15,000 junior secondary schools.
He said the wide gap has created overcrowding in the available junior secondary schools, while many senior secondary schools are not being fully used.
He said the existing arrangement, which separates junior and senior secondary education into different administrative structures, has not delivered the expected results.
According to him, the policy has instead made it harder for many children to continue their education after primary school.
The minister said the government intends to gradually end the current structure and replace it with a system that will improve access to education for Nigerian children.
He added that the planned reform is aimed at putting the interests of students ahead of administrative arrangements.
The policy separating junior and senior secondary schools was introduced in 1982 under the National Policy on Education, commonly known as the 6-3-3-4 education system, which was first developed in 1977.
Alausa disclosed that the proposal will be presented before the National Council on Education at its next meeting for consideration and approval.
He added that the planned reform is part of the Federal Government’s wider efforts to improve school enrolment, reduce the number of out-of-school children, and strengthen learning across the country’s education system.
