President Bola Tinubu government is advocating the adoption of a 12-year basic education model to scrap secondary schools in Nigeria.
Minister Of Education, Tunji Alausa spoke on Thursday at the 2025 extraordinary meeting of the National Council on Education (NCE) in Abuja.
The meeting hosted the commissioners for education from the 36 states and the FCT, MDAs, and other development partners.
Alausa said phasing out the 6-3-3-4 model and introducing a 12-4 will reform education in Nigeria to align with global standards.
Nigeria operates the 6–3–3–4 education system where a child enrols in school at age six and undergoes six years each of primary and secondary education, at the end of which they are expected to be aged 18.
Alausa said the government is seeking approval from the NCE to set 16 years as the minimum entry age for tertiary institutions.
He said subsuming secondary schools under basic education would provide uninterrupted learning until students turn 16.
The minister said a 12-year basic education system will reduce dropout rates by removing financial and systemic barriers.
He said it would standardise the curriculum and offer early vocational training to prepare students for higher education and employment.
Alausa said the policy, if adopted, is expected to enhance economic and social development by equipping young people with relevant skills and reducing child labour.
Key implementation strategies, he said, include policy reforms, infrastructure expansion, teacher training, and curriculum development.
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