education

Federal Government to Scrap Junior-Senior Secondary School Separation Policy

Published

4 months ago

July 1, 2026

Federal Government plans to abolish the disarticulation policy separating Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, as Minister Tunji Alausa highlights massive dropouts and infrastructure imbalances affecting millions of Nigerian children

The Federal Government has announced plans to abolish the long-standing policy that separates Junior Secondary Schools from Senior Secondary Schools, citing its failure to improve access and its role in contributing to massive school dropouts.

Also read: Alausa’s controversial JAMB admission policy for Colleges of Education

Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa disclosed the proposed shift on Tuesday in Abuja while inaugurating the Universal Basic Education Commission Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee.

He said the government would present a formal proposal to scrap the “disarticulation policy” at the next meeting of the National Council on Education.

Alausa expressed concern over the more than 20 million children who have dropped out before reaching senior secondary level.

“We have 20 million dropouts from primary school to JSS. Where are those students?” he queried, pointing to the stark mismatch between approximately 80,000 public primary schools and only about 15,000 junior secondary schools – a ratio of one to eight.

The policy, which requires separate management structures, principals and facilities for junior and senior secondary levels, has created bottlenecks, overcrowded junior secondary classrooms and underutilised senior secondary infrastructure in many areas.

The minister cited examples from Kaduna and several northern states where transition rates have suffered significantly.

“This disarticulation policy has failed. We will phase it out,” Alausa declared, adding that the focus must remain on what best serves Nigerian children rather than creating unnecessary administrative positions.

The reform forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader strategy to boost access, retention and learning outcomes. The minister acknowledged past challenges in addressing the out-of-school children crisis but expressed strong confidence in current efforts.

“This government will not fail. We are fixing it,” he said.

At the same event, Alausa inaugurated the UBEC Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee, chaired by Prof. Rashid Aderinoye.

The committee is tasked with overseeing the completion, handover and operationalisation of UBEC-funded Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools nationwide.

The minister lamented that many such projects remain abandoned or non-operational despite significant investment, describing it as an unacceptable waste of public resources. He emphasised that building schools is not enough — completed facilities must open for teaching and learning.

Also read: 250,000 Nigerians Enrolled in Federal TVET Programme – Alausa

The proposed policy change is expected to generate significant discussion at the National Council on Education as stakeholders evaluate its potential impact on Nigeria’s education system.

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education

Babcock Debunks Student’s Death Reports After Hostel Incident

Published

20 hours ago

November 10, 2026

Mariam Balogun

Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, has dismissed reports claiming that a student involved in an incident at one of its residential halls had died, confirming that he is alive and receiving medical treatment.

The institution said the student was responding positively to treatment at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital following injuries sustained during the incident.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Monday and signed by the university’s Associate Vice-President, Communication, Media and Branding, Dr Johnson B. Akintayo.

The incident occurred on Sunday, November 8, and attracted public attention after videos showing the student near a hostel window ledge circulated on social media.

The footage showed some of his roommates attempting to restrain him and prevent him from falling.

According to the university, the situation was brought under control through the prompt intervention of the student’s roommates, whose actions helped prevent a more serious outcome.

However, the student and one of the roommates who participated in the rescue sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital for medical attention.

“Contrary to reports suggesting that the student may have died, we wish to assure the public that he is responding positively to treatment and is receiving the necessary medical care,” the statement said.

The university disclosed that the injured roommate had been treated and discharged, while the affected student remained under medical care.

It added that the student’s parents had been contacted and were already on campus to support him during his recovery.

Babcock University also announced that it had commenced an investigation to establish the immediate and underlying circumstances surrounding the incident.

The institution said the investigation would help determine what happened, identify possible contributing factors and establish measures to prevent a recurrence.

It urged members of the public and media organisations to avoid circulating unverified information or speculating about the cause of the incident while the investigation remained ongoing.

The university further commended the roommates who intervened, describing their prompt response as instrumental in preventing a potentially more tragic outcome.

It also appealed for sensitivity and restraint in public discussions about the incident, particularly out of respect for the student and his family.

Babcock reaffirmed its commitment to the safety, health and welfare of its students and employees, adding that it would continue to monitor the student’s recovery and provide the necessary support.