The Federal Government has officially refuted recent viral reports suggesting that it has introduced a new minimum age of 12 years for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1).
In a clarifying statement issued by Boriowo Folasade, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, the government emphasized that the circulating information is not only baseless but also did not emanate from any legitimate or authorized source within the ministry.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years,” the ministry reiterated. “Accordingly, no child is expected to finish primary education before reaching the age of 10.”
Describing the publication as “false and misleading,” the ministry cautioned parents, schools, and the general public to disregard the misinformation and to always verify educational guidelines through official channels before drawing conclusions or taking action.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, also weighed in on the issue, confirming that the age requirement for university admission in Nigeria is still 16 years. He emphasized that this benchmark is firm, consistent, and remains non-negotiable regardless of how early a student may have completed secondary education.
According to the ministry, these age benchmarks are crucial to ensure that students are not only academically prepared but also emotionally and mentally mature enough to handle the responsibilities and challenges that come with the next phase of their education, whether at the secondary or tertiary level.
The government strongly encouraged stakeholders in the education sector—including school administrators, parents, and media practitioners—to make it a habit to consult official sources whenever there is uncertainty or confusion about policies. This, it said, would help curb the spread of unfounded rumors and misleading narratives.
“The Federal Ministry of Education has noted with concern a false and misleading publication in a newspaper claiming that the Federal Government has set a new minimum age of 12 years for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1),” the statement read.
“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.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years. Accordingly, no child should complete primary education below the age of 10. Any suggestion to the contrary is misleading and should be disregarded.”
“In the same vein, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has reiterated that the prescribed minimum age for admission into Nigerian universities is 16 years. This policy is consistent, non-negotiable, and applies uniformly, regardless of how early a student may have completed secondary education.”
“The Ministry maintains that this age benchmark ensures the cognitive and emotional readiness of students for higher academic engagement.”
“The Federal Ministry of Education urges the public, educational institutions, and media organisations to always seek clarification from official channels before acting on or publishing unverified information.”
“The Ministry remains committed to ensuring transparency and developmental appropriateness in the implementation of all educational policies in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.”[/p>