A new policy document on Non-State Schools launched by the Federal Ministry of Education last week has pegged the entry age for pupils seeking admission into Junior Secondary Schools after completing six years of primary education at 12.

Non-State Schools, also referred to as independent or private schools or non-government schools, are educational institutions not managed by the government.

They are typically financed by tuition payments as well as donations from individuals, businesses, communities, faith-based organisations and foundations.

According to the policy document, non-state schools are increasingly playing a major role in education provision in the country, despite variations in the quality of education being offered across the categories of schools.

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.

Recently, there have been controversies over the mandatory age of entry into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

The former Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, announced 18 years as the minimum entry requirement, before the new minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, reverted the policy to 16 years for entry into university.

The Nigeria Education Digest 2022, published by the ministry, indicated that “Non-state schools outnumber state schools in at least 26 states of the federation at the Junior Secondary level, whereas at the primary level, state schools outnumber non-state schools in 19 states of the federation.

“The growth in the number of non-state schools between 2017 and 2022 (the last five years reported) has been faster than that of state schools.

“Non-state primary schools grew in number by 31.56 per cent between 2017 and 2022, while state schools grew in number by 3.3 per cent within the same period.

“At the Junior Secondary level, non-state schools grew in number by 35.06 per cent between 2017 and 2022, while state schools grew in number by 6.8 per cent only within the same period.”