The Federal Ministry of Education has debunked claims that the Federal Government has introduced a new minimum age of 12 years for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1).
In a statement released on Friday, the Ministry described the report, published by The Punch, as “false and misleading.”
“The minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years,” the Ministry confirmed. “No child should complete primary education before the age of 10.”
According to the Ministry, any suggestion to the contrary should be disregarded as it does not reflect official policy. The clarification is intended to correct public misunderstanding and reassure stakeholders that no new age threshold has been introduced.
University Admission Age Policy Unchanged
In addition to reaffirming the JSS1 policy, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, also restated that the minimum age for university admission in Nigeria remains 16 years.
“This policy is consistent, non-negotiable, and applies uniformly, regardless of how early a student may have completed secondary education,” Dr. Alausa said. “It ensures the cognitive and emotional readiness of students for higher academic engagement.”
Public Advised to Verify Information
The Ministry cautioned the public, media, and educational institutions to avoid acting on or disseminating unverified information—especially on issues as sensitive as educational access.
“As Minister of Education, I affirm that the approved minimum age for JSS1 remains 10 years, and for university admission, it remains 16 years—a longstanding policy that ensures students are emotionally and intellectually prepared,” Dr. Alausa reiterated.
The Federal Ministry of Education urged parents, school administrators, and journalists to seek clarification only from official government sources and pledged its continued commitment to transparency and policy clarity under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
