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 released on Friday in Abuja, the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, described the reports as “entirely inaccurate” and not reflective of any existing or revised government policy.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years,” Boriowo clarified.
“Accordingly, no child should complete primary education below the age of 10.”
She urged members of the public, media, and education stakeholders to disregard any contrary claims and rely solely on verified information from official channels.
The statement also reaffirmed the policy on university admissions in Nigeria. Quoting the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, Boriowo stated that the minimum age for admission into Nigerian universities remains 16 years.
“This policy is consistent and non-negotiable,” the Minister said, adding that the age benchmark ensures students possess the emotional and cognitive maturity required for university education.
The Ministry advised the public and institutions to seek confirmation from official sources before acting on or disseminating unverified information.
