The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has proposed a significant shift in Nigeria’s educational system, advocating the transition from the current 9-3-4 structure to a 12-4 model.
Speaking at the 2025 Extraordinary National Council of Education (NCE) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, Alausa argued that this reform would align Nigeria’s education system with global standards and offer a more comprehensive and uninterrupted learning experience for students.
The NCE, the highest policymaking body in Nigeria’s education sector, convened to discuss key educational issues, including the proposed 12-year basic education system and the approval of a national policy on bullying.
Alausa expressed that while the current 9-3-4 system had its advantages, it also had several shortcomings.
One of the key drawbacks, he said, was the necessity for students to work in order to continue their education, which could affect their academic progression.
“It is important to acknowledge that while the 9-3-4 system of education has its merits, it also has drawbacks, such as the need for students to work in order to further their education,” Alausa explained.
“It is therefore prudent to transition from the 9-3-4 to the 12-4 system of education. By doing so, Nigeria will align with global standards in preparing students for better tertiary education.”
The proposed 12-year basic education system, Alausa said, would provide a more structured and uninterrupted curriculum, fostering quality assurance across the education sector.
He noted that such a model would promote better standardisation, improve educational outcomes, and help create a more educated populace that could contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic development.
Alausa also addressed concerns related to the 16-Year Tertiary Admission Policy, which mandates that students must be at least 16 years old before gaining admission to tertiary institutions.
He raised concerns that the policy was disenfranchising exceptionally gifted students who complete their secondary education at 16 but are unable to enter university until they are 18.
“I am sure many of you have heard about the challenges we face as a nation with talented, bright students being disenfranchised from pursuing tertiary education,” he said.
“We are now preventing these students, after finishing secondary education at the age of 16, from attending university until they are 18.
“This delays their development and harms their futures. These students are capable and brave. If we leave them idle, we risk exacerbating mental health issues.”
In addition to the 12-year education proposal, Alausa discussed the government’s plans to convert federal science and technical colleges into federal technical colleges.
He emphasised the importance of technical education in bridging the skills gap in Nigeria’s workforce, stating that it is essential for driving national development and industrial progress.
“The provision of technical education allows a nation’s human and natural resources to be harnessed more effectively.
Therefore, technical education contributes significantly to national development, driving cultural and industrial progress,” Alausa concluded.
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