The federal ministry of education has denied claims that it announced 12 years as the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).
Earlier, there were reports that the ministry, in a policy document, set the new minimum age for admission for JSS 1 at 12 years.
The reports claimed the policy is concerned with the non-state schools, also known as private schools.
It also said the ministry added that nursery school admission would be three-year-olds and above.
Reacting in a recent statement, Folasade Boriowo, the ministry’s spokesperson, denied the reports, saying “it was entirely inaccurate”.
She added that it did not come from any official source and did not reflect government’s policy.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years,” she stated.
“Accordingly, no child should complete primary education below the age of 10.”
Boriowo urged the public and education stakeholders to disregard any contrary claims.
The ministry also advised the public, educational institutions, and media organisations to seek clarification from official sources before publication.
This is not the first time the minimum age for admission has triggered public reaction.
Last year, Tahir Mamman, former minister of education, had set 18 as the minimum age for tertiary school admission.
It was to address concerns that many admission-seeking secondary school graduates do not seem mature enough to deal with the rigours of tertiary school.
The age policy was vehemently contested, with stakeholders concerned that exceptional students could be unduly shut out of tertiary schools.
The policy would have gone into effect in 2025.
However, last November, Tunji Alausa, the education minister, stated that an admission age of 18 years is not sustainable for the education sector.
The minister said a limit of 16 years would be maintained, while the cap would be waived altogether for students who prove to be exceptionally intelligent.
He said a cap of 18 years works against the federal government’s efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country.
