The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified circulating reports suggesting that the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) has been raised to 12 years.
In an official statement issued Friday in Abuja, the Ministry’s Director of Press, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, described the reports as “entirely inaccurate” and lacking any basis in government policy.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years,” Boriowo clarified. “Accordingly, no child should complete primary education below the age of 10.”
She urged the public, education stakeholders, and media outlets to disregard any contrary claims and to rely only on verified information from official government channels.
The statement also quoted the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, reaffirming that the minimum age for admission into Nigerian universities is 16 years. He emphasized that the policy remains consistent and non-negotiable, regardless of how early a student may complete secondary school.
“The Ministry maintains that this age benchmark ensures the cognitive and emotional readiness of students for higher academic engagement,” the statement concluded.