The Federal Government has announced a nationwide ban on the admission and transfer of students into Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) in public and private secondary schools. The directive, issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, was confirmed in a press release dated December 14, 2025.
The ministry said the decision followed “growing concerns over the increasing incidence of examination malpractice, including the use of so-called special centres during external examinations,” noting that such practices “undermine the integrity and credibility of Nigeria’s education system.”
According to the statement, the policy will take effect from the 2026/2027 academic session. “Admission or transfer into SS3 will no longer be permitted under any circumstance,” it said, warning that violations would attract sanctions and reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting the credibility of public examinations.