The Federal Government has described as misleading and inaccurate reports in some sections of the media that it has set a new minimum age of 12 years for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1).

Specifically, it emphasised that the minimum age for admission into JSS 1 remains 10 years.

A statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, clarified that the report did not emanate from any official source, and does not reflect government policy.

Reports in some section of the media (not The Guardian) had claimed that the Nigerian government has fixed age 12 as minimum for JSS1 admission.

While dismissing the reports, Boriowo also clarified that the minimum admission age for universities in Nigeria remains 16 years.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years. Accordingly, no child should complete primary education below the age of 10. Any suggestion to the contrary is misleading and should be disregarded by the public and all education stakeholders.

“In the same vein, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has reiterated that the prescribed minimum age for admission into Nigerian universities is 16 years. This policy is consistent, non-negotiable, and applies uniformly, regardless of how early a student may have completed secondary education. The Ministry maintains that this age benchmark ensures the cognitive and emotional readiness of students for higher academic engagement,” Boriowo said. 

Nigerian cuisine recipesThe Ministry advised the public, educational institutions, and media outlets to verify information through official channels before sharing or acting on it to avoid spreading misinformation.