The Federal Government has announced plans to scrap the policy separating the administration of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and Senior Secondary Schools (SSS), saying the reform has failed to achieve its objectives and has contributed to the rising number of students dropping out before completing secondary education.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, disclosed the decision on Tuesday in Abuja, explaining that the current arrangement has created unnecessary administrative bottlenecks that hinder students’ seamless transition from junior to senior secondary school.
According to the minister, millions of students expected to progress from JSS to SSS are unable to make the transition each year, a trend he described as unacceptable and one that requires urgent policy intervention.
To begin the process, Alausa directed officials of the Federal Ministry of Education to prepare a position paper for presentation to the National Council on Education (NCE) to facilitate the review and eventual abolition of the policy.
He said the move is part of broader efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen the education sector, improve access to uninterrupted secondary education and reduce school dropout rates across the country.
As part of the reforms, the minister also inaugurated a committee tasked with ensuring that Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools established by the Federal Government become fully operational nationwide.
He explained that the committee would identify and remove implementation bottlenecks, ensuring that completed government-funded schools are adequately equipped, properly staffed and opened for academic activities without delay.
Alausa stressed that no publicly funded educational institution should remain abandoned or underutilised, noting that every completed school left idle represents a lost opportunity to improve educational outcomes for Nigerian children.
He expressed confidence that all Smart Schools and Bilingual Schools would become fully operational before the end of the year, adding that the Federal Government remains committed to improving learning outcomes and delivering a more efficient and inclusive education system.
