Editorial: Scrapping JSS-SSS separation is only the beginning

The Federal Government’s plan to end the separation between Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) is one of the boldest education reforms proposed in recent years. The decision came after the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, revealed a shocking reality that more than 20 million Nigerian children drop out before reaching senior secondary school. That number should worry every parent, teacher, community leader and government official.

According to the minister, Nigeria has about 80,000 public primary schools but only about 15,000 junior secondary schools. This huge gap creates a bottleneck. Many pupils complete primary school but cannot move into JSS because there are simply not enough schools. Others get discouraged by distance, poor facilities or the cost of continuing their education.

The government believes that separating JSS from SSS has also created unnecessary barriers. In many places, the two levels operate as different schools with different principals, staff and administration. Instead of helping students, the arrangement has made movement from one stage to another more difficult. It has also left many senior secondary schools underused while junior secondary schools remain overcrowded.

If these are the problems, then reviewing the policy makes sense.

But Nigerians should also remember that changing a policy on paper will not automatically return 20 million children to the classroom.

The biggest problem facing education in Nigeria is not the name or structure of the school system. It is access. Across the country, millions of children stay out of school because of poverty, insecurity, child labour, early marriage, poor roads, lack of teachers and inadequate classrooms. In some communities, schools simply do not exist close enough for children to attend safely.

Even where schools exist, many lack desks, books, toilets, laboratories and qualified teachers. Some classrooms have more than 80 pupils learning under poor conditions. These are problems that no policy announcement alone can solve.

The Federal Government is right to ask an important question: Where are the 20 million children?

The answer is painful. Many are working in markets, on farms and in workshops. Some are roaming the streets. Others have been forced out of school because their families cannot afford uniforms, books or transport. In parts of northern Nigeria, insecurity has forced many schools to close, leaving children with no place to learn.

That is why this reform must go beyond removing the separation between JSS and SSS.

Government at all levels must build more schools, especially junior secondary schools, recruit and train more teachers, improve school infrastructure and make education more affordable for poor families. States also have a major role to play because they manage most public basic schools.

The reform should also be linked with better data. The Federal Government is already building a national education database to track millions of learners throughout their school years. If properly implemented, such a system can help authorities quickly identify children who have dropped out and intervene before they disappear permanently from the education system.

Another important issue is consultation. Education affects every Nigerian family. Parents, teachers, school owners, education experts and state governments should all have a voice before any final decision is taken. The National Council on Education, which is responsible for approving major education policies, must carefully examine the proposal and ensure it truly serves the best interests of Nigerian children.

The goal should not simply be to change the structure of schools. The goal should be to ensure that every Nigerian child who starts primary school also completes secondary school with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in life.

Nigeria cannot build a strong economy while millions of children remain outside the classroom. Every child who drops out represents lost talent, lost opportunity and a weaker future for the country.

The proposed reform deserves support because it addresses a genuine weakness in the education system. However, it should be seen as only the beginning. Without adequate funding, more schools, better teachers, improved security and stronger political commitment, Nigeria’s education crisis will remain.

The real test of this reform will not be whether JSS and SSS become one system again. The real test will be whether, five years from now, millions more Nigerian children are still sitting in classrooms instead of sitting at home or wandering the streets. That is the result Nigerians should expect from any education reform.