The Federal Ministry of Education has officially denied circulating reports suggesting an increase in the minimum admission age for Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) to 12 years.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the Ministry’s Director of Press, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, described the claims as completely false and unsubstantiated.
Boriowo emphasised that the information did not originate from any official government source and does not represent current education policy. “For absolute clarity, the minimum age requirement for JSS1 admission remains 10 years,” she stated.
“Furthermore, no child should complete primary education before reaching this age threshold.” The ministry strongly advised parents, schools, and education stakeholders to ignore the misleading reports.
The statement also included remarks from the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who reiterated that the minimum admission age for Nigerian universities stands firmly at 16 years.
He stressed that this policy remains consistent and mandatory, regardless of how early a student may have finished secondary education. According to the minister, this age requirement for JSS1 admission ensures students possess the necessary cognitive and emotional maturity for tertiary education.
The Ministry called on the public, educational institutions, and media organisations to verify information through official channels before dissemination or implementation.
This clarification comes amid growing concerns about misinformation affecting education policies. The Federal Ministry of Education reassured citizens of its commitment to maintaining standardised, developmentally appropriate age benchmarks across all educational levels while urging continued vigilance against unverified claims.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
