FG denies raising minimum age for JSS1 admission to 12 years

The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed reports claiming that the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) has been raised to 12 years.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the Ministry’s Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, described the report—published by The Punch newspaper—as “entirely inaccurate” and not reflective of any government policy.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years,” Boriowo said. “Accordingly, no child should complete primary education below the age of 10.”

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She urged the public and education stakeholders to disregard any contrary claims, adding that the misleading report did not originate from an official source.

The statement also quoted the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who reiterated that the minimum age for university admission remains 16 years. He described the policy as consistent and non-negotiable, regardless of how early a student completes secondary school.

“The Ministry maintains that this age benchmark ensures the cognitive and emotional readiness of students for higher academic engagement,” the statement noted.

The Federal Ministry of Education encouraged the public, media outlets, and educational institutions to verify information through official channels before publication or implementation.