FG Overhauls Nigeria's Education System Amid Dropouts

The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated an overhaul of the country's educational structure, scrapping the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) systems. This decision, announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, comes in response to alarming statistics showing that 20 million children drop out after primary school.

The current educational framework, known as the 6-3-3-4 system, has been criticized for creating a significant transition gap, with 24 million children enrolled in primary school but only 4 million completing senior secondary education. The government aims to address these issues by proposing a new policy to be discussed at the next National Council on Education meeting.

A high-powered committee, chaired by renowned education expert Prof. Rashid Aderinoye, will be established to facilitate the transition and operationalize new educational initiatives, including the establishment of smart schools and bilingual education programs.