The Federal Government has announced plans to phase out the policy separating Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) from Senior Secondary Schools (SSS), following findings that more than 20 million pupils fail to progress beyond the junior secondary level.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed the decision on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee.
According to the minister, the policy requiring JSS and SSS to operate as separate institutions with different principals and facilities has failed to achieve its intended goals.
Alausa revealed that the country has about 80,000 public primary schools but only around 15,000 junior secondary schools, creating a significant imbalance in the education system.
“We have over 20 million pupils dropping out between primary school and junior secondary school. Where are these children?” he asked. “With a ratio of one junior secondary school to every eight primary schools, the system has become overstretched.”
He explained that the shortage of junior secondary schools has resulted in overcrowded classrooms, while many senior secondary schools remain underutilised. He noted that the challenge is particularly evident in Kaduna State and several other northern states.
Describing the arrangement as ineffective, the minister said the government would move to abolish the policy.
“This disarticulation policy has failed, and we will phase it out. We cannot continue creating administrative positions at the expense of a functional education system. Our priority is to do what is best for every Nigerian child,” he said.
Alausa added that the proposal would be presented at the next meeting of the National Council on Education for consideration.
He said the reform is part of broader efforts to improve access to education and increase the transition rate from primary to secondary school.
“We have not done enough in the past, but this government is determined to fix the problem. We will not fail,” he stated.
The minister also inaugurated a committee led by Prof. Rashid Aderinoye to supervise the implementation of UBEC-funded Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools across the country.
The committee is expected to ensure that completed projects are handed over to state governments and made operational for learners.
Although UBEC has invested in hundreds of these schools nationwide, Alausa lamented that many remain incomplete or have yet to admit students, describing the situation as a waste of public funds.
Nigeria continues to grapple with one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, with millions of school-age children, especially those in rural and conflict-affected communities, still unable to access formal education.
Education stakeholders have repeatedly stressed that solving the crisis requires more than building new schools. They argue that existing facilities must be completed, adequately staffed and fully operational to improve access to quality education.
