Stakdfeholders react to FG’s new 12-yr basic education model

The current administration has been coming up with plans to overhaul the education sector, especially at the basic level.  The Federal Ministry of Education, which is championing the cause, has not done so without generating debates from across segments of society, especially parents whose wards are the centre of the policies. A week ago, the […]

The current administration has been coming up with plans to overhaul the education sector, especially at the basic level. 

The Federal Ministry of Education, which is championing the cause, has not done so without generating debates from across segments of society, especially parents whose wards are the centre of the policies.

A week ago, the news that the federal government proposed a compulsory 12 years of uninterrupted basic education broke out and generated a reaction from the public.

The minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who presented a proposal for discussion at the National Council on Education (NCE) for discussion however, said it was not an immediate policy change.

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“At the Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) Meeting held on February 6, 2025, in Abuja, I presented a proposal for discussion—not an immediate policy change. The proposal seeks to migrate to 12 years of compulsory education while retaining the current 6-3-3 structure,” he said.

“A key aspect of this proposal is to eliminate the examination barrier between JSS and SSS, allowing for a seamless transition of students without the hurdles of an external assessment at that stage.”

Dr Alausa said: “What we’re saying is that we need to move from what we have now as nine years of compulsory education to 12 years of compulsory education as is obtained in other parts of the world.”

Nigeria currently operates the 9-3-4 system, which consists of nine years of basic education, three years of senior secondary education, and four years of tertiary education.

However, Alausa pointed out that some of the issues influencing the convening of the extraordinary National Council of Education meeting include the introduction of a 12-year basic education system in Nigeria’s education framework and the approval of a national policy on bullying, among others.

“It is important to acknowledge that while the 9-3-4 system of education has its merits, it also has drawbacks, such as the need for students to work to further their education,” Alausa explained.

“It is therefore prudent to transition from the 9-3-4 to the 12-4 system of education. By doing so, Nigeria will align with global standards in preparing students for better tertiary education.

“A 12-year basic education model will ensure a continuous, uninterrupted curriculum, promoting better standardisation and fostering quality assurance in the education system,” Alausa added.

He argued that a 12-year model will also guarantee that students receive a more comprehensive and continuous learning experience.

“If you look back into the history of Nigeria, 40 years ago, people that went through primary education then and got up to standard six, if you compare the level of education, the level of instruction, even at standard 3 then, it’s much better than what we get in JSS 3 now. And today, our quality of instruction and education is falling, and if we let these kids continue to graduate with nine years of compulsory education, we’re literally just training illiterates. We’re not preparing them for the future.”

“So, keeping the nine years of compulsory education would not be sufficient for our children, and that’s why we’re thinking, we’re proposing that we move to 12 years of compulsory education. And I want to reassure you, this will still stay within the ambit of our primary school, JSS and SSS.”

Daily Trust reports that the National Council on Education finally approved that the Federal Ministry of Education should, through wider stakeholders’ engagement, commence the process of developing a framework for the implementation of the 12-year compulsory basic education programme.

 Stakeholders react

Since the pronouncement on the 12-year compulsory basic education, many stakeholders have reacted, with some saying it’s a suggestion that should not be considered and others noting that it would remove pressure on the student.  

An educationist, Michael Ojonugwa, said if given a choice, he would still prefer the 6-3-3-4 system to the proposed 12 years of basic education.

He said the system prepares students for the challenges, knowing that they have to sit for the common entrance examination and junior secondary examination.

“There is a way the students prepare for examinations and the level of seriousness they put into it because they want to be at the next level, so stopping it and saying they should just progress will only reduce pressure on the students but will kill their motivation to excel through serious learning,“ Michael said.

He said the government’s change of policies or recycling some ideas does not solve the problem in the sector. Rather, what it is doing is solving one problem and creating another because, with this uninterrupted 12 years’ model, the standard of education will drop.

 Ojonugwa, however, said all the preparations that students put in for the next level exams such as extra lessons will no longer be there.

He maintained that the problem of the sector is not just funding but that the government should ensure that when they invest any money it gets the value of its investment.

A teacher, Sophia Emmanuel, said the proposed educational system will enable uninterrupted 12 years of basic education by eliminating the break to write the junior secondary examination.

She said the JSS examination serves as a guard to help students make a choice of path – to study science, arts or management subjects – and also prepare them for the senior examination.

Emmanuel said stopping the examination will reduce pressure on students but it may affect the way they put effort in their studies.

A leader of a parent group, under the Concerned Parents, who does not want to be mentioned, said they had a meeting with the federal government and other stakeholders to discuss the proposed 12-year basic education plan.

She said they understand the government’s desire to improve the educational system for Nigerian children but emphasised the critical importance of enforcing the existing policy regarding the entry age for primary school, which is six years.

She said the policy will not help address the challenge of the education sector unless the right things are done, adding that government always has in mind what to do but pays little attention to advice by stakeholders.

The consequences of admitting underage children to primary school (often referred to as “The hurried child syndrome”) are already negatively impacting our country. We are seeing the effects on children’s development and well-being. It’s crucial that we address this issue now.

“This matter affects us all; and it’s vital that we lend our voices to ensure the proper implementation and enforcement of the established entry age policy. Please do all we can to ensure this message gets the much-needed attention,” Sophia Emmanuel urged.

 The National President of Association of Model Islamic Schools, Mallam Saleh Kwaru, said the model holds significant promise for improving the nation’s educational landscape.

He said the successful implementation of this ambitious reform is contingent upon several critical factors , which  includes developing a comprehensive curriculum that is both relevant and engaging, designing effective assessment strategies, and establishing clear guidelines for implementation across all schools.

Kwaru added that substantial investment in educational infrastructure is paramount.

“This means building new classrooms, upgrading existing facilities, and ensuring access to adequate learning resources, including textbooks, technology, and laboratories.  High-quality teacher training is absolutely vital. Teachers must be adequately prepared to deliver the new curriculum effectively, utilize modern teaching methodologies, and cater to the diverse learning needs of students.”

He however, advised that open dialogue, consultation, and feedback mechanisms will be crucial for addressing concerns, building consensus, and ensuring that the new system meets the needs of all learners.