The Federal Government has debunked a report claiming that the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) has been raised to 12 years.

The Ministry of Education Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, made this known via a statement issued on Friday, July 25, 2025.

Boriowo said the report was inaccurate, noting that it did not come from any official source and did not reflect government policy.Boriowo stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years.

“No child should complete primary education below the age of 10.”

Boriowo urged the public and education stakeholders to disregard any contrary claims.

Editors under the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have resolved today to henceforth set up a fact-check desk in their various newsrooms as a measure to tackle fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

The decision was reached on the occasion of a one-day workshop organised by the European Union (EU) NGE in Lagos on Thursday.

The editors said that having a Fact-Check Desk would help media organisations verify news hints, with the view to publishing only accurate information.

Other key decisions taken at the end of the workshop include:

Media organizations should organise trainings for their newsroom managers and line editors on fact-checking.

The Guild should set up disinformation counter groups across its zonal structures, ahead of the 2027 general election.

Media organizations should collaborate and reach out to each other to verify information.

Media organisations should look at the quality of their Online Editors to ensure that experienced and well-grounded journalists man the position.

The Guild should use other of its bigger platforms to address issues bordering on fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

During the workshop, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot and the NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba, said that newsroom managers should acquire the skills and tools for fact-checking as a way to arrest fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

Mignot said that the EU was taking a multi-pronged approach to address the threats posed by misleading information, which he described as a “danger to democracy and public trust.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa on Friday announced the entry age for pupils seeking admission into Junior Secondary Schools (JSS1) after completing six years of primary education at 12.

This is contained in a new policy document on non-state schools as unveiled by the ministry.

He acknowledged that non-state schools (referred to as independent or private schools or non-government schools, are educational institutions not managed by the government) 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.

The Federal Ministry of Education emphasised that the age of enrolment, “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, by 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 years of primary education, at around the age of 12 years.”