The federal ministry of education at the weekend said it has noted with concern a false and misleading publication by The Punch Newspaper, claiming that the federal government has set a new minimum age of 12 years for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS 1) in the country.
In a statement signed by its director of press and public relations, Boriowo Folasade, the ministry described the said report as entirely inaccurate, explaining further that the report did not emanate from any official source, and does not reflect government policy.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS 1 remains 10 years. Accordingly, no child should complete primary education below the age of 10,” the statement read in part.
It also added that “any suggestion to the contrary is misleading and should be disregarded by the public and all education stakeholders.”
In the same vein, the minister of education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has reiterated that the prescribed minimum age for admission into Nigerian universities is 16 years. Alausa insisted that this policy is consistent, non-negotiable, and applies uniformly, regardless of how early a student may have completed secondary education.
The ministry maintains that this age benchmark ensures the cognitive and emotional readiness of students for higher academic engagement.
According to the minister, the federal ministry of education is urging the public, educational institutions, and media organisations to always seek clarification from official channels before acting on or publishing unverified information.
“The ministry remains committed to ensuring transparency and developmental appropriateness in the implementation of all educational policies,” he concluded.
