The Federal Government announces plans to scrap and phase out the policy that separates Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) from Senior Secondary Schools (SSS), saying the arrangement contributes to rising student dropouts. Education Minister Dr. Tunji (Olatunji) Alausa makes the announcement in Abuja during the inauguration of a Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) ministerial implementation and monitoring committee. According to Alausa, more than 20 million pupils leave school between primary education and JSS, which he describes as evidence the current system is not working. He also cites a shortage of JSS facilities, including a reported imbalance between the number of public primary schools and available JSS, which he says results in overcrowded classrooms. At the same time, he says some senior secondary schools remain underutilised in parts of the country, including Kaduna and other northern states. Alausa argues that the “disarticulation” of JSS and SSS—run with separate principals and facilities—has failed. He says the proposal will be presented at the next meeting of the National Council on Education, and that the aim is to improve access to education and increase progression from JSS to senior secondary school.