FG denies raising JSS1 entry age to 12, says minimum age still 10

The federal government has dismissed reports claiming it has set a new minimum age of 12 years for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1), describing the information as false and misleading.

In a statement issued on July 25, Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, said the official minimum age for JSS1 admission remains 10 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,” the statement read.

“Any suggestion to the contrary is misleading and should be disregarded by the public and all education stakeholders.”

The ministry also reaffirmed the existing policy on university admissions, stating that the minimum entry age remains 16 years.

“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,” Boriowo said.

“This policy is consistent, non-negotiable, and applies uniformly, regardless of how early a student may have completed secondary education.”

The ministry urged journalists and the public to verify information through official channels to avoid spreading falsehoods.