Nigeria's proposed move to scrap the traditional separation between Junior Secondary School and Senior Secondary School has opened an important conversation about the future of education in the country.
The reform, championed by Education Minister Tunji Alausa, is being presented as part of wider efforts to improve the structure and effectiveness of Nigeria's education system.
At its core, the proposal could help create a more continuous secondary education experience for students rather than dividing their progression into two separate stages.
Supporters of the change argue that reducing structural barriers could help improve school retention and limit the number of children who leave the education system before completing secondary school.
However, changing the structure of secondary education alone cannot solve Nigeria's wider education problems.
The country continues to face challenges involving inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, learning outcomes, funding and access to quality education.
Many schools still operate without the facilities required to provide students with a modern learning environment.
Teachers also require stronger training and support if structural reforms are to translate into better classroom outcomes.
The proposed JSS-SSS reform should therefore be viewed as a starting point rather than a complete solution.
Nigeria also needs stronger systems for identifying children who are at risk of dropping out and providing the support required to keep them in school.
Poverty remains another major obstacle, particularly for families struggling to meet the indirect costs associated with education.
Without addressing these underlying pressures, structural changes may have limited impact on children who cannot remain in school because of financial or social circumstances.
Curriculum reform is equally important because students need education that prepares them for both higher learning and the modern labour market.
Digital literacy, critical thinking, technical skills and entrepreneurship should form part of a broader strategy for developing young Nigerians who can compete in a changing economy.
The government must also ensure that schools have enough qualified teachers to implement any new structure effectively.
A reform that changes school organisation without strengthening the people responsible for teaching could produce administrative change without meaningful improvement in learning.
Funding will also determine whether the proposed changes succeed.
States and local education authorities will need adequate resources to provide classrooms, laboratories, libraries, sanitation facilities, technology and other essentials.
The reform should therefore be accompanied by clear implementation plans, measurable targets and mechanisms for monitoring progress.
Parents and teachers should also have a meaningful role in discussions about how the new structure will work in practice.
Education reforms are more likely to succeed when the people who operate and experience the system understand the objectives and are involved in implementation.
Nigeria's education crisis requires a combination of structural reform, investment, accountability and long-term planning.
Scrapping the JSS-SSS separation could become an important milestone if it is properly designed and implemented.
But its real value will ultimately be measured by whether more children remain in school, whether learning improves and whether students leave the system with skills that prepare them for adulthood.
For that reason, the proposed reform should not be treated as the destination.
It should be the beginning of a broader effort to rebuild Nigeria's education system around access, quality, skills development and better outcomes for every child.