By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — Former Chief of Staff to a former Imo State Governor, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, has commended the Federal Government’s proposed education reforms, describing the planned introduction of a continuous 12-year basic education system as a significant step toward improving access to education and reducing school dropout rates.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Nwosu said the proposed policy, announced by the Federal Ministry of Education, was timely and could help address the challenge of children leaving school before completing secondary education.

According to him, a seamless 12-year learning structure would remove barriers associated with the transition from Junior Secondary School (JSS) to Senior Secondary School (SSS) and strengthen the country’s human capital development.

“This is one of the most important educational reforms in recent times. By creating a seamless 12-year learning structure, the Federal Government has demonstrated its commitment to reducing barriers that have hindered many children from completing their education,” he said.

Nwosu said the policy would particularly benefit children in rural communities and those from economically disadvantaged families who often face difficulties during the transition between junior and senior secondary school.

He also commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, for his leadership in driving reforms aimed at improving access, quality and continuity in the education sector.

Nwosu urged state governments, education stakeholders and parents to support the implementation of the proposed reform, stressing that education remains critical to national development.

He expressed optimism that effective implementation of the policy would help reduce the number of out-of-school children and better prepare young Nigerians with the skills needed for the future.

The former Imo governorship candidate also welcomed the Federal Government’s approval of reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), describing the initiative as a step towards making the scheme more skills-driven and productivity-focused.

According to him, the planned reforms would better equip graduates with practical skills, promote entrepreneurship and enhance their contribution to national development.

While supporting the initiative, Nwosu advised the Federal Government to retain the NYSC’s military orientation component, arguing that it remains important for promoting discipline, patriotism and national unity among corps members.

He also urged the government to protect the integrity of the scheme by ensuring that its operations remain focused on its core mandate of fostering national cohesion and youth development.