Amidst growing public confusion, the Federal Government has firmly debunked widespread reports suggesting it has raised the minimum admission age for Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) to 12 years. In a clear rebuttal, the Ministry of Education has reaffirmed that the official minimum age remains 10 years — a long-standing policy that has not been altered.

In a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, the ministry described the circulating reports as both “misleading” and “inaccurate.” It clarified that no such announcement was made by any authorized government agency and cautioned the public against accepting unverified information.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years. Accordingly, no child should complete primary education below the age of 10. Any suggestion to the contrary is misleading and should be disregarded by the public and all education stakeholders,” Folasade stated.

The clarification comes in response to media claims that the Nigerian government had supposedly increased the minimum age to 12. The Ministry expressed concern about the misleading nature of such reports and urged media outlets to confirm facts with credible sources before publication.

The Ministry also took the opportunity to restate its long-established policy regarding tertiary education, emphasizing that the minimum age for university admission in Nigeria remains 16 years. According to the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, this benchmark is “consistent, non-negotiable, and applies uniformly, regardless of how early a student may have completed secondary education.”

Dr. Alausa noted that the age requirement serves an important purpose: ensuring that students are not only academically prepared but also emotionally and cognitively mature enough for the challenges of higher education.

The Ministry advised all educational institutions, parents, and the general public to consult official channels for accurate information and policy updates. It warned that the spread of unverified claims could contribute to unnecessary anxiety and misinformed decisions across the country’s educational landscape.

This renewed emphasis on age standards underscores the government's commitment to maintaining quality and order in the nation's educational system, particularly in foundational and tertiary admissions.