csrreporters 
The Federal Ministry of Education has released a new policy document that sets the minimum entry age for pupils transitioning into Junior Secondary School (JSS1) at 12 years. This move aligns with the national education framework and aims to standardize learning progression across Nigeria’s growing number of non-state (private) schools.
Non-state schools—also known as private, independent, or non-governmental schools—are not run by the government and are typically funded through tuition fees, private donations, faith-based organisations, and community support. Despite significant contributions to education access, concerns about uneven quality across these schools have prompted new regulatory measures.
The policy outlines a structured learning pathway, beginning with nursery education at age three:
- Nursery 1: Age 3
- Nursery 2: Age 4
- Kindergarten (Pre-primary): Age 5
- Primary 1: Age 6
After completing six years of primary education, students would be eligible to begin JSS1 at age 12. In essence, the nine years of basic education—six in primary and three in junior secondary—must be fully completed before advancing to senior secondary school.
If this new policy is strictly implemented, Nigerian students would complete secondary education and become eligible for tertiary admission at around 18 years of age.
The age criterion comes amid ongoing debates over university entry ages in Nigeria. While former Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman had announced 18 as the minimum age for university admission, current Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa later revised this to 16 years.
The policy also reflects the changing educational landscape in Nigeria. According to the Nigeria Education Digest 2022, non-state schools are now more numerous than public schools in at least 26 states at the junior secondary level. At the primary level, however, public schools still outnumber non-state schools in 19 states.
Between 2017 and 2022, private primary schools grew by 31.56%, compared to just 3.3% for public schools. At the junior secondary level, private schools saw a 35.06% growth rate, compared to 6.8% among government-run schools.
The rapid expansion of non-state schools highlights the growing role of private sector participation in Nigeria’s education system—making policy standardization all the more critical.