The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a nationwide ban on the admission and transfer of students into Senior Secondary School Three in both public and private secondary schools, as part of efforts to curb the growing incidence of examination malpractice.
In a press release issued on Sunday, December 14, 2025, the Federal Ministry of Education explained that the decision was prompted by the increasing use of so-called “special centres” during external examinations.
The ministry emphasized that such practices undermine the credibility of the nation’s education system.
“Examination malpractice, particularly the movement of students into SS3 for examination-related advantages, has been a growing concern,” the ministry stated.
“These actions compromise the integrity of the system and hinder the fair conduct of public examinations.”
The new policy, which will take effect from the 2026/2027 academic session, prohibits students from being admitted or transferred into SS3.
Under the new guidelines, admission and transfers will be restricted to Senior Secondary School One (SS1) and Senior Secondary School Two (SS2) only.
“The policy will address the late movement of students into their final year, which is often for examination-related advantages,” said the ministry.
“It is designed to promote proper academic monitoring and ensure continuity in teaching and learning.”
The Federal Ministry of Education also directed all school proprietors, principals, and administrators to fully comply with the new directive.
“Any violation of this policy will attract sanctions in accordance with existing education regulations,” the statement added.
The move is part of the government’s broader effort to safeguard the integrity of public examinations and maintain high academic standards across the country.
“We are committed to restoring credibility to public examinations and ensuring fairness in the educational system,” the Ministry reaffirmed in the statement.
The government’s action reflects a growing resolve to address the systemic issues contributing to exam malpractice and the overall decline in the quality of education in Nigeria.
