Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has proposed a shift to a 12-year basic education system to replace Nigeria’s current secondary school structure. He made the proposal on Thursday at the 2025 extraordinary meeting of the National Council on Education (NCE) in Abuja.

The meeting gathered education commissioners from all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and development partners.

Alausa called for the replacement of Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 system with a 12-4 model, aligning the nation’s education framework with global standards. Under the current system, students typically begin school at age six, completing six years of primary and secondary education each, finishing at 18.

The minister also revealed plans to seek NCE approval for a minimum age of 16 for tertiary education entry. He explained that merging secondary education into the basic education structure would ensure continuous learning up to age 16, reducing dropout rates by eliminating financial and systemic barriers.

According to Alausa, the proposed model would standardize curricula, introduce early vocational training, and better prepare students for higher education and employment. He added that if implemented, the policy could enhance economic and social development by equipping young people with essential skills and reducing child labor.

Key implementation strategies, he noted, would include policy reforms, infrastructure expansion, teacher training, and curriculum development.