UPDATE: Lagos State Government Clarifies Its Position On News That Said It Has Pegged Entry Age Into JSS At 12 Years

The Lagos state government has clarified its position on reports making the rounds, especially on social media concerning minimum age for admission into junior secondary schools in the state. Recall that we earlier reported that Lagos state had plans to peg the entry age of students into JSS1 at 12 years old. Read here.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Office of the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, no decision has been made on the issue yet, even though the statement corroborates that there is a myriad of disadvantages embedded in the admission of under-aged children into junior secondary schools.

The commissioner stated also that the adverse effects of hastening the entry of pupils into junior secondary schools and non-completion of the primary school curriculum is well researched and documented; this, among other issues of emotional, social and mental maturity will be discussed with stakeholders at the end of the pandemic after which a final decision will be made, the statement read.

Adefisayo said the issue, which is still under review in the Ministry of Education, has been a matter of great concern to the present administration.

In her words,

“This is to affirm that the Ministry of Education has indeed received concerns from various stakeholders regarding this subject.

As a consequence, meetings were held with various stakeholders with correspondence and minutes exchanged”.

Adefisayo disclosed further that subsequent meetings were also scheduled with various categories of stakeholders such as Executives of Private Schools Associations and Parent Bodies, Office of Education Quality Assurance, State Universal Basic Education Board, Lagos State Examination Board, All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), among others.

Noting that the meetings had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the commissioner affirmed that the state government will involve all stakeholders in the rigorous process of implementing the National Policy on Education in the State.

“The public is hereby assured that as soon as normalcy returns, these meetings will be held, and details of the State’s final position on the matter will be made available to all stakeholders, both digitally and in hard copy through the state media platforms”,

she stated.

Adefisayo, however, pointed out that education is not only cognitive and that other aspects must also be given due attention and consideration in order to produce youths who will be able to function effectively in the 21st Century.

“Furthermore, the expected years of schooling at each level of education is entrenched in the National Policy on Education.

The adverse effects of non-completion of the Primary School Curriculum and being rushed into Junior Secondary School before physical, mental, emotional and social maturity of children is well-researched and documented”,

she stated.

The Commissioner also stressed the importance of due processes, saying

As mentioned, we have outlined concerns on this matter and all issues raised will be discussed and due process will be followed before implementation.