By John Umeh
The Federal Ministry of Education has debunked widespread reports claiming that it has implemented a mandatory 12-year minimum age requirement for students seeking admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) across Nigeria.
In an official statement released on Friday, the Ministry clarified that no such policy currently exists and described the circulating information as misleading and inaccurate. The clarification comes amid public concern and confusion sparked by viral posts suggesting that students below 12 years would no longer be allowed to enroll in JSS1, regardless of their academic readiness.
“The Federal Ministry of Education has not issued any directive imposing a compulsory 12-year minimum age for admission into JSS1 in public or private schools,” the statement read. “While age-appropriate placement remains a key component of educational development, there is no nationwide policy enforcing a fixed age threshold at this time.”
The Ministry emphasized that school admissions continue to be guided by a combination of academic performance, cognitive readiness, and in some cases, age recommendations provided by the Universal Basic Education (UBE) guidelines. However, these are not rigidly enforced age limits, but rather flexible standards designed to support effective learning and maturity.
Education stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and school administrators, have been advised to disregard the false reports and await any official pronouncement directly from the Ministry through its verified communication channels.
The statement also warned the public to be cautious of unverified information being circulated on social media and other unofficial platforms, urging citizens to verify education-related news through credible government sources.
This development highlights ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s education sector, particularly regarding policy communication and public awareness. The Ministry reiterated its commitment to improving access to quality education and assured the public that any changes to national policy would be communicated clearly and transparently.
