Federal Gov’t Maintains 10-Year Minimum For JSS1 Entry

The Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed that the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) in Nigeria remains 10 years.

This clarification followed a report published by a media outfit which claimed that the government had raised the entry age to 12.

In a press statement issued yesterday by Boriowo Folasade, the director, press and public relations, the ministry described the report as entirely false and without basis, stating that it did not originate from any official source and does not reflect the position of the federal government on education policy.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years. No child should complete primary education below the age of 10. Any suggestion to the contrary is misleading and should be disregarded,” the ministry said.

It reiterated the existing policy on university admissions, saying the prescribed minimum age for entry into Nigerian universities remained 16 years.

It noted that this requirement was uniform and non-negotiable, regardless of how early a student may have finished secondary education.

“This policy ensures that students possess the cognitive maturity and emotional readiness required for university-level academic work,” the statement said.

The ministry urged schools, parents, education stakeholders, and media organisations to always verify information through official government channels before acting on or publishing educational claims. It warned that misinformation can cause confusion and undermine public trust in education policy.