The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed reports suggesting a new minimum admission age of 12 years for Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1), describing the claims as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, the Ministry clarified that the official minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years, adding that children are not expected to complete primary education before this age.
“The report on a 12-year age requirement did not originate from any official source and does not reflect government policy,” the statement read. “Such claims are inaccurate and should be disregarded by the public and all stakeholders in the education sector.”
Reaffirming the Ministry’s position on age requirements across education levels, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, also reiterated that the minimum age for admission into Nigerian universities remains 16 years, regardless of how early a student completes secondary education.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that the age benchmark is critical to ensuring that students are cognitively and emotionally prepared for the academic rigors of tertiary education.
The Ministry urged parents, schools, and media organisations to verify information through official government channels to avoid the spread of misinformation.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to transparent and age-appropriate implementation of education policies, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.