The federal government has dismissed claims that it has raised the minimum age for entry into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) to 12 years.
In a statement issued on Friday, July 25, by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, the government said the report making rounds is “false and misleading.”
According to the statement, “The Federal Ministry of Education has noted with concern a false and misleading publication in a newspaper claiming that the Federal Government has set a new minimum age of 12 years for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1).
“The Ministry wishes to categorically state that this report is entirely inaccurate, did not emanate from any official source, and does not reflect government policy.”
The ministry reaffirmed that the existing benchmark remains intact. “For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years. Accordingly, no child should complete primary education below the age of 10.
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“Any suggestion to the contrary is misleading and should be disregarded by the public and all education stakeholders,” the statement said.
It also clarified the minimum entry age into Nigerian universities remains 16, regardless of how early a student finishes secondary school.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has reiterated that the prescribed minimum age for admission into Nigerian universities is 16 years. This policy is consistent, non-negotiable, and applies uniformly,” the ministry added.
The government urged the public and media to verify information from official sources to avoid spreading misinformation.
It reiterated its commitment to transparency and developmental appropriateness in policy implementation, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.