Youth group calls for rejection of proposed 12-4 educational structure by FG
…says system flawed, misplaced priority
Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
A group, Owu Youth Forum, has called for the rejection of the move by the Federal Government to abolish the 6-3-3-4 educational system and replace it with 12-4 structure, describing the move as “flawed and misplaced priority”.
The Forum, in a statement signed by its President, Olawale Peter Olajumoke, at the weekend, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, faulted the move, saying “it is not only misguided but reflects a pattern of habitual, surface-level changes that fail to address the root problems plaguing the country’s educational sector”.
Olajumoke noted that since the inception of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, Nigeria has witnessed policy after policy that lacked the foresight and depth required for real transformation.
While pointing out that changing the national anthem without addressing the underlying mindset of the people is a glaring example, he declared that after over 20 months in power, the government is yet to gain the trust and confidence of its citizens through tangible service delivery.
Olajumoke expressed the dismay of the Forum that instead of focusing on comprehensive educational reform, the FG has proposed an extension of compulsory learning years under a system that remains deeply flawed.
“How can you extend a system that is already failing? A lengthened period of compulsory basic education will not miraculously produce better students or graduates if the curricula remain outdated and disconnected from global competitiveness. The real issue is not how long students stay in school but what they are being taught and how they are being prepared for the future.
“Nigerian universities churn out thousands of research projects annually, yet, a negligible percentage are ever adopted for practical application. Why? Because the government has failed to foster a knowledge-driven society. A system that does not encourage a strong reading culture, critical thinking, or problem-solving cannot be fixed simply by adding more years to basic education.
“The 6-3-3-4 system already provides early skill cquisition.
The argument that the new 12-4 system will better equip students for life before tertiary education is misleading. The existing 6-3-3-4 structure already provides an opportunity for young people to learn a trade or skill before university where there are limited sponsorships. The problem is not the structure but the lack of implementation and support.
“Rather than forcing students into an unnecessarily prolonged academic system, why not strengthen the vocational and technical training components of the existing system? Many students currently rely on skills they acquired at an early age to fund their tertiary education. This is evidence that what we need is not more school years but more practical, hands-on training that prepares students for real-world challenges”, the statement read in part.
Olajumoke argued that the government must focus on real solutions and shift its focus to what truly matters such as conducting a national appraisal of public schools across all 774 local government areas , encouraging functional and operational alumni associations and empowering young minds with skills.
“Conduct a national appraisal of public schools across all 774 local government areas. Let us see the true state of our classrooms, laboratories, and libraries.
Provide a conducive learning environment, with proper infrastructure, functional laboratories, and technology-driven education.
“Encourage functional and operational alumni associations that have taken it upon themselves to uplift their alma maters where the government has failed. And,empower young minds with skills, creativity, and technical knowledge to build a society where the son of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody.
“The youth of this country deserve *
quality, not quantity. We reject any policy that focuses on lengthening education without improving its substance. We demand a government that builds minds, not just systems. Until the FG prioritises curriculum reform, technological advancement, and real investment in young Nigerians, no structural change will yield the progress we desperately need. This is not just a call to action; it is a demand for justice in education. We shall not be silent. Nigeria’s youth are watching and Nigeria’s youth are ready”, Olajumoke submitted in the statement.