Stakeholders Back FG’s Plan To Merge JSS & SSS Into Six-Year Secondary School
Support Grows for Proposed Secondary Education Reform
STAKEHOLDERS in Nigeria’s education sector have expressed broad support for the Federal Government’s proposal to abolish the separation between Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS), describing the initiative as a significant step toward strengthening the country’s secondary education system.
The proposed reform, announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, forms part of broader efforts to improve learning outcomes, reduce barriers to education and enhance the quality of secondary education nationwide.
While many education stakeholders welcomed the initiative, others argued that its success would depend on comprehensive implementation and renewed investment in technical and vocational education.
Private School Operators Endorse Six-Year Model
The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools in Nigeria (NAPPS) strongly endorsed the proposed reform, saying it could eliminate unnecessary transitions that interrupt students’ educational progression.
Chairman of the NAPPS Lagos State Elders Forum, Mr. Tunde Bejide, said integrating junior and senior secondary education into a continuous six-year programme would reduce school dropout rates, lower educational costs for families and make better use of existing school infrastructure.
According to him, removing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and other graduation-related expenses at the end of JSS would ease financial pressure on parents while ensuring uninterrupted learning for students.
Bejide noted that if properly implemented, the reform would create a more stable academic environment and improve overall educational continuity.
Experts Call for Stronger Vocational Education
Despite supporting improvements to the education system, some stakeholders cautioned that restructuring alone would not resolve longstanding challenges.
Retired teacher Mrs. Amuche Ndukwe argued that the existing JSS-SSS structure failed largely because vocational education received inadequate funding and policy attention rather than because the framework itself was fundamentally flawed.
She explained that technical workshops became obsolete over time, while insufficient investment and society’s increasing preference for university education weakened technical and vocational institutions.
According to Ndukwe, government should modernise vocational education by incorporating digital technology, artificial intelligence and industry-relevant skills capable of improving youth employability.
She maintained that strengthening technical education should accompany any structural reforms.
Parents Seek Practical Implementation
The National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) also welcomed the proposal, describing it as a practical effort to improve the education system.
Chairman of the association’s Board of Trustees, Mr. Adeolu Ogunbanjo, however, stressed that meaningful implementation would require substantial investment in technical colleges, vocational centres and trade schools across the country.
He advocated creating seamless progression pathways from technical colleges to polytechnics to ensure students acquire practical skills while retaining opportunities for higher education.
According to him, expanding access to modern vocational training would enable the reform to produce graduates equipped for both employment and entrepreneurship.
Reform Aims to Improve Learning Outcomes
The Federal Government’s proposal seeks to simplify secondary education by creating a unified six-year structure capable of improving retention, reducing transition-related disruptions and enhancing educational efficiency.
Education experts agree that while structural reform offers important opportunities, lasting improvements will depend on adequate funding, teacher development, curriculum modernisation, improved infrastructure and sustained policy implementation capable of meeting the evolving needs of Nigeria’s education sector.
