The Federal Ministry of Education has debunked reports that it has reviewed the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) from 10 to 12 years. In a press statement issued on Thursday, July 25, 2025, the Ministry described the circulating claim first published by The Punch Newspaper as misleading and completely false.
The statement, signed by Mrs. Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press & Public Relations, emphasized that the Ministry did not issue any policy directive to raise the age requirement. According to the rejoinder, the claim does not emanate from any credible or authorized source and should be disregarded by the public and all education stakeholders.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years,” the Ministry declared. It added that children should not complete primary school below that age, and that any recommendation or enforcement of 12 years as the minimum age for JSS1 is unauthorized and inconsistent with national education policy.
The Ministry reiterated that this clarification is necessary to prevent unnecessary panic among parents, school administrators, and prospective students who may have been misinformed by the earlier publication. It stressed that spreading false information, especially on matters involving children’s education, could disrupt the academic calendar and lead to unintended consequences.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, also weighed in on the matter. In a recent address, he reaffirmed that the government has not approved any age review for JSS1 admissions and that such a decision would not be taken without comprehensive stakeholder engagement and official publication through appropriate channels.
Similarly, Dr. Alausa maintained that the minimum age requirement for admission into Nigerian universities is still 16 years and remains unchanged. He stressed that this benchmark is firm, consistent, and non-negotiable, irrespective of how early a student may complete secondary school education.
The age benchmark for university admission, according to the Minister, is rooted in cognitive and emotional development standards, ensuring that students are not only academically qualified but also psychologically prepared for the demands of higher education.
The Federal Ministry of Education used the opportunity to remind media organisations of their role in verifying information from official sources before publication. “The responsibility of the press in nation-building is enormous, and it must be exercised with professionalism, especially in the education sector,” the statement noted.
Parents and guardians were also advised to consult their state Ministries of Education, school management boards, or the official website of the Federal Ministry of Education for accurate updates on school policies and admission guidelines. This, the Ministry said, would help curb the spread of misinformation.
Furthermore, school administrators across the country have been instructed to continue implementing the existing admission policy as enshrined in the Universal Basic Education guidelines and not to act on any unverified directive. Any deviation from this could lead to sanctions, the Ministry warned.
The Federal Government concluded by affirming its commitment to policy transparency and child-centered educational reforms in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda. It called on all stakeholders to remain vigilant, support accurate information dissemination, and avoid being instruments for the circulation of fake news.
