From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed media reports that it has scrapped the junior and senior secondary education system, replacing it with a 12-year compulsory basic education system.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, at a press conference in Abuja, on Friday, explained that the issue of an elongated compulsory basic education system which was discussed at the emergency National Council on Education (NCE) in Abuja, on Thursday, was misrepresented in several media reports on Friday.
He explained that a proposal which was presented to the NCE for the collapse of the existing system into a 12-year compulsory system of basic education was designed to enable the children to have an uninterrupted basic education system that will be useful to their development, academically and otherwise.
He said: “The plan is not to disrupt the basic education system but to strengthen it. We intend to move to a 12-year compulsory basic education within the mandate of six years of Primary school, three years of junior secondary school, and three years of senior secondary school.
“So, we have neither scrapped primary school, junior secondary nor senior secondary school as was reported in the media on Friday, and we do not intend to do that.
“We only increased the number of compulsory years from 9 to 12 inclusive of the 3 years of secondary school that will now be taken straight without interruption.
“All the existing barriers along the line will be removed to enable the seamless transitioning of children through the system.
“In the new plan, the Common Entrance Examination will be abolished except for candidates seeking admission into the Federal Government Colleges (FGCs) otherwise known as Unity Schools.
“Similarly, in the proposed plan, the examination hitherto taken by junior secondary school students to allow them move to senior secondary school classes will also be abolished.
“In doing this, we will achieve a better result, particularly in retaining the children in school. We would no longer have cases of children dropping off along the line particularly after the junior secondary school thus moving away from half-baked education. This system will also be free and compulsory.”
The Minister disclosed that a final decision has not been taken on the matter.
“The policy is at the consultation level. We will further engage with all stakeholders in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on the matter before the final decision is taken on the matter, perhaps, in October when the NCE meets again.
“We are not reinventing the will. This is what’s obtained in other parts of the world including the UK, US, Ghana, Brazil, and other countries with an efficient education system.
“Our goal is to tackle learning poverty, out-of-school children, and others. We just need to emulate things that are working.
“Adding these three years will ensure improved quality and uninterrupted education for these children which will help to equip them strongly with knowledge and skills to succeed in life thus improving the Nigerian human capital index.
Meanwhile, the Minister explained that a unanimous decision was also taken at the NCE that 16 years should be the minimum entry age requirement into the country’s tertiary institutions.
“There was no policy to back up our decision before now, hence the decision to approach the NCE for necessary action on the matter.
“We don’t want a situation whereby someone will come as a Minister in the next 10 years, and change it.
“We want to have a policy document to back up the decision that 16 years is the minimum entry age requirement into the country’s tertiary institutions,” said the Minister.
He, however, made an exception for some gifted/talented children who are below the age of 16, but desire to gain admission into the tertiary institutions.
“JAMB has been mandated to do placement tests for such gifted children to stand qualified for university admission.”