Nigeria’s 12-4 Education Proposal: Reform or Misplaced Priority? CHRICED Queries
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has strongly criticised the recent proposal by Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to transition from the current 9-3-4 education system to a 12-4 model.
The proposal which has sparked heated debate CHRICED says is a “misplaced priority” that fails to address deeper issues plaguing the education sector, saying key challenges such as inadequate funding, outdated curricula, teacher shortages, and rising numbers of out-of-school children remain unaddressed.
The proposed transition if approved, would be Nigeria’s fourth education reform since independence, raising concerns over policy consistency.
CHRICED argues that rather than introducing another structural change, the government should focus on sustainable reforms to improve learning quality and accessibility.
They also question whether the proposal is backed by research or stakeholder consultation.
With smaller African nations like Ghana and Rwanda making strides in education through locally driven policies, critics urge Nigeria to adopt a long-term, homegrown approach instead of experimenting with foreign models. .
As debates continue, stakeholders call for policies that tackle the root causes of Nigeria’s education crisis, rather than surface-level adjustments.
