FG to Scrap JSS, SSS Separation Policy After 20 Million Pupils Drop OutThe Federal Government has announced plans to phase out the separation between Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s growing education crisis, which has left an estimated 20 million children out of school.
The proposed reform aims to replace the current transition between JSS and SSS with a more seamless 12-year basic education system, ensuring that learners remain in school without unnecessary barriers that often contribute to dropouts. According to education authorities, the policy is intended to improve retention rates, increase access to quality education and equip students with stronger academic, vocational and life skills before they proceed to higher education.Officials believe the existing structure has contributed to interruptions in learning, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. By creating an uninterrupted learning pathway, the government hopes to reduce school dropouts, improve literacy levels and strengthen the nation’s human capital.The proposal is expected to be discussed further with key stakeholders, including state governments, education agencies, teachers and parents, before full implementation. Authorities have stressed that the reform is part of broader efforts to modernise Nigeria’s education system and ensure that every child has the opportunity to complete basic education.If approved and implemented nationwide, the new policy could mark one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s education sector in recent years, with the goal of keeping millions of children in school and preparing them for future academic and career opportunities. The government says the initiative is driven by the urgent need to reverse the country’s alarming out-of-school children statistics and improve educational outcomes nationwide.
