The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Nigeria, has urged the Federal Government to subject its proposed integration of Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) to rigorous research and extensive stakeholder consultation before adopting the policy.
In a position paper signed by its National President, Chief Yomi Otubela, and National Secretary, Evangelist Ajibade Augustine, the association said it welcomed efforts aimed at improving school retention and reducing the number of out-of-school children but cautioned against assuming that structural changes alone would resolve Nigeria’s educational challenges.
NAPPS noted that the proposal to replace the current 6-3-3-4 system with a continuous six-year secondary education had generated mixed reactions among educators, parents, school proprietors, and other stakeholders.
According to the association, proponents believe the reform could reduce the number of learners who discontinue their education after completing Junior Secondary School by providing a seamless transition into Senior Secondary School.
“In many parts of the country, particularly in public schools, some students who complete the Basic Education Certificate Examination fail to proceed to Senior Secondary School because they become engaged in informal jobs, vocational activities or other distractions. A continuous structure may therefore encourage more learners to remain within the formal education system,” the statement said.
However, NAPPS argued that the major causes of school dropout extend beyond the structure of the education system.
It identified poverty, insecurity, rising education costs, child labour, early marriage, inadequate school infrastructure, shortage of qualified teachers, and weak enforcement of compulsory education laws as the principal factors responsible for children leaving school.
“Unless these underlying challenges are deliberately addressed, changing the administrative structure may produce only marginal improvements,” the association stated.
NAPPS also expressed concern that abolishing the distinction between junior and senior secondary education could inadvertently affect students whose interests are better served through technical and vocational education after JSS.
It stressed that the current arrangement allows many learners to enrol in technical colleges, vocational institutions, and skill acquisition programmes, providing alternative pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.
The association further highlighted student welfare concerns, noting that the separation of junior and senior secondary schools has helped reduce incidents of bullying by limiting interaction between younger and older students.
“Government should carefully evaluate how this advantage will be preserved under any proposed restructuring,” it added.
Beyond structural reforms, NAPPS called for greater investment in teacher quality and welfare, discipline and values-based education, technical and vocational education, school infrastructure, and financial support for vulnerable learners.
The association also urged government to restore public confidence in education by addressing youth unemployment, improving incentives for technical education, and enhancing the attractiveness of the teaching profession.
It emphasised that private schools, which educate millions of Nigerian children, should be recognised as strategic partners in national development through supportive policies, affordable financing, and inclusion in education reform initiatives.
NAPPS recommended that the Federal Government commission comprehensive research to determine whether the separation between JSS and SSS significantly contributes to school dropout, adding that any findings should be based on credible national data, international best practices, and measurable learning outcomes.
The association also called for broad consultations involving NAPPS, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, state ministries of education, examination bodies, education researchers, parents, development partners, technical education experts, and civil society organisations.
It welcomed complementary initiatives such as the Learner Identification Number and the Digital National Education Management Information System, describing them as important tools for strengthening educational planning and evidence-based policymaking.
“Our position is therefore clear. The proposed integration of Junior and Senior Secondary education should neither be accepted nor rejected on the basis of assumptions or sentiments. It should be subjected to rigorous research, broad stakeholder engagement and careful policy evaluation,” the association stated.
NAPPS reaffirmed its commitment to working with governments and other stakeholders to build an education system that is accessible, inclusive, affordable, and capable of producing skilled and responsible citizens for national development.
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