The Federal Government has announced plans to phase out the policy separating Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) from Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) after data revealed that more than 20 million pupils dropped out before reaching the senior secondary level.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the UBEC Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee.

He said the disarticulation policy, which requires JSS and SSS to operate separately with different principals and facilities, has failed to achieve its intended objectives.

According to the minister, Nigeria has about 80,000 public primary schools but only 15,000 junior secondary schools, creating a one-to-eight ratio that has resulted in overcrowded JSS facilities and underutilised senior secondary schools in many states.

Alausa said the Federal Government will present a proposal to abolish the policy at the next meeting of the National Council on Education.

He stressed that reforms must prioritise the educational needs of Nigerian children over administrative considerations.

He also inaugurated a committee chaired by Prof. Rashid Aderinoye to oversee the completion and handover of UBEC-funded Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools, and Alternative Schools across the country.

The committee is expected to ensure the projects are completed, transferred to state governments, and opened for learning.

The minister noted that many of the UBEC-funded schools remain unfinished or have not admitted students describing the situation as a waste of public resources.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to expanding access to education and improving learning outcomes, particularly as Nigeria continues to grapple with one of the world's highest numbers of out-of-school children.