BREAKING: Federal Government Debunks Claims of New Minimum Age for JSS1 and University Admission

The Federal Ministry of Education has debunked recent media reports claiming that the Federal Government has introduced a new minimum age of 12 years for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1), describing the publication as “false and misleading.”

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the Ministry stated unequivocally that the minimum age for JSS1 admission remains 10 years, not 12 as widely reported.

“The Punch Newspaper’s report alleging that the government has fixed 12 years as the new benchmark for JSS1 admission is entirely inaccurate and did not originate from any official source,” the statement read. “Such misinformation does not reflect government policy and should be disregarded by the public and all education stakeholders.”

The Ministry further clarified that no child is expected to complete primary education before the age of 10, stressing the importance of age-appropriate cognitive and emotional development in line with educational best practices.

Additionally, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed that the existing policy regarding university admission remains unchanged. The minimum age for entry into any Nigerian university is 16 years, a policy the Minister described as “non-negotiable.”

“This standard ensures that students are adequately prepared—both emotionally and intellectually—for the rigours of higher education,” Dr Alausa noted.

The Ministry cautioned media organisations, educational institutions, and the general public to verify facts through official government channels before acting on or disseminating education-related information.

“The Federal Ministry of Education remains committed to upholding transparency, consistency, and child-centred policies under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration,” the statement concluded.