The Nigerian Federal Government has barred public and private schools from admitting or transferring students into Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) from the 2026/27 academic year, in a move officials say is aimed at curbing examination malpractice and tightening oversight of final-year students nationwide.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced on Sunday that, from the 2026/27 session, no student will be allowed to join or transfer into SS3 in any secondary school in Nigeria, saying the policy is designed to discourage last-minute movements for “examination-related advantages”, strengthen academic monitoring, and protect the integrity of public examinations.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, authorities said admissions and transfers would be strictly restricted to Senior Secondary One (SS1) and Senior Secondary Two (SS2), while SS3 will be closed to new entries “under any circumstance”.
The directive applies to all public and private secondary schools across the federation and will come into force from the next academic calendar.
The ministry’s statement warned that school proprietors, principals and administrators nationwide have been directed to comply fully with the new policy and that any violation will attract sanctions in line with existing education regulations and guidelines.
The ministry linked the new policy directly to rising worries over examination malpractice, including the use of so‑called “special centres” during external examinations conducted by national and regional bodies.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining academic standards, promoting fairness and restoring credibility to public examinations across the country.
