20 Million Dropouts Trigger Major Reform as FG Moves to End JSS/SSS System
The Federal Government has announced plans to abolish the long-standing separation between junior and senior secondary schools, following concerns that the policy has contributed to massive school dropouts and violations of children’s right to education and development.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed the proposal in Abuja, stating that more than 20 million pupils fail to transition from primary school to junior secondary education. He described the situation as a systemic barrier that denies children continuous learning and limits their development potential.
According to him, the current structure has created significant inequalities in access to education, with a severe shortage of junior secondary schools compared to primary institutions. This gap, he said, has left millions of children without a clear pathway to complete basic education.
From a child rights perspective, education stakeholders argue that the situation undermines the right of every child to accessible, continuous and quality education, as guaranteed under national and international frameworks. They warn that persistent dropout rates weaken human capital development and deepen cycles of poverty.
Alausa said the proposed reform will be submitted to the National Council on Education for approval, adding that the government aims to create a more integrated system that ensures smoother transition and retention of learners.
He also linked the reform to Nigeria’s broader learning crisis, where millions of children are unable to read at age 10, stressing the need for urgent digital and structural interventions.
Education experts say the proposed policy shift, if implemented effectively, could strengthen access, reduce exclusion and improve the realization of children’s right to development across the country.
