By Seyi Babalola
The Federal Ministry of Education released a new policy paper on non-state schools last week, which set the entry age for students seeking admission to junior secondary schools after completing six years of basic school at 12.
Non-State Schools, often known as independent, private, or non-government schools, are educational institutions that are not run by the government.
They are generally funded via tuition payments and contributions from people, corporations, communities, faith-based groups, and foundations.
According to the strategy statement, non-state schools are progressively playing an important part in the country’s education system, despite differences in the quality of education delivered between school categories.
Speaking on the age of enrolment, the Federal Ministry of Education said, “Nursery education shall be of three years’ duration.
“Children shall be admitted into Nursery One when they attain the age of three years, Nursery Two on attaining the age of four, and one year of compulsory pre-primary education (Kindergarten) on attaining the age of five years, in accordance with the specification of Section 2(17) of the NPE, 2013 Edition.”
On the age of enrolment for junior secondary schools, the policy clearly stated that, “Basic education shall be of nine years’ duration. There shall be a six-year primary and a three-year Junior Secondary School (JSS). Children shall be admitted into Primary One when they attain the age of six years.
“Every child must complete six years of primary education. They shall be admitted into Junior Secondary School (JSS1) when they have completed six (6) years of primary education, at around the age of twelve (12) years.”
If this new policy is followed to the letter, it implies that Nigerian learners would attain the rightful age of 18 before being qualified for entrance into higher institutions.
