The Federal Government has dismissed claims that it has raised the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) to 12 years, describing the report as false and misleading.
In a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the government clarified that the official minimum age for JSS1 admission remains 10 years.
“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 statement said. “No child should complete primary education below the age of 10. Any suggestion to the contrary should be disregarded.”
The statement also reaffirmed that the minimum age for admission into Nigerian universities remains 16 years, as stated by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa. This benchmark, the Ministry noted, ensures that students possess the necessary emotional and cognitive maturity for higher education.
It further urged the public, media, and educational institutions to verify information through official channels before sharing or acting on it.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to implementing age-appropriate educational policies in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.
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