Education minister proposes shift to 12-4 basic education system
In a bid to align Nigeria’s education framework with global standards, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has proposed a shift from the nation’s current 9-3-4 education system to a 12-4 model.
Alausa, while speaking at the 2025 Extraordinary National Council of Education meeting in Abuja, emphasised that the proposed change would better prepare students for tertiary education and enhance educational outcomes.
He said, “A 12-year basic education model will ensure a continuous, uninterrupted curriculum, promoting better standardisation and fostering quality assurance in the education system.”
He added that this model would provide students with a more comprehensive learning experience, contributing to the nation’s economic development.
Among other crucial issues, the meeting also addressed the conversion of federal science and technical colleges into federal technical colleges and the approval of a national policy on bullying.
“The introduction of a 12-year basic education system and the conversion of federal science and technical colleges are key agenda points,” Alausa stated.
The Minister, while acknowledging the merits of the 9-3-4 system, highlighted its limitations, particularly the challenges students face in furthering their education.
Dr. Alausa expressed concern over the current policy barring students under 18 from enrolling in tertiary institutions.
“We are now preventing students, after completing secondary education at age 16, from attending university until they are 18. This delays their development and harms their futures. These talented students deserve better opportunities.”
“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,” he explained.
Nigeria currently operates the 9-3-4 system, which comprises nine years of basic education, three years of senior secondary education, and four years of tertiary education.
Source: Vanguard newspaper
