A recent directive by the Nigerian government to ban the admission and transfer of students into Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) has drawn criticism from prominent digital and human‑rights activist Muhammed Bello Buhari. The Federal Ministry of Education announced the ban in a press release dated 14 December 2025, citing growing concerns over examination malpractice, including the use of special centres during external examinations. Effective from the 2026/2027 academic session, the policy prohibits admission or transfer into SS3 under any circumstance.
Buhari argues that the ban overlooks the harsh realities of insecurity and displacement in Northern Nigeria. Many families in states such as Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Borno, Yobe, Plateau and Benue are forced to relocate because of banditry, terrorism and forced migration that have destroyed communities and schools. Displacement has become a normal part of life, often occurring in the middle of an academic session, compelling parents to move with their children. Consequently, students who have completed SS2 but must enroll in new schools, as well as those already in SS3 whose families are compelled to relocate, would be unfairly affected.
Buhari questions the effectiveness of the ban in curbing examination malpractice, contending that cheating is driven by systemic issues such as weak supervision, poor teaching conditions and pressure to pass examinations, rather than by student transfers. He warns that the policy could exacerbate the already high number of out‑of‑school children in the North, where poverty, insecurity and displacement already hinder access to education.
The activist calls on the Federal Government to review the directive and introduce exemptions for displaced students and conflict‑affected communities, stressing that education policies must reflect Nigerians’ lived realities. As Buhari warned, “If this policy goes ahead without exemptions, it will only deepen exclusion and inequality, and once again, the North will pay the highest price.” The government’s response will be crucial in addressing the challenges faced by students in Northern Nigeria.
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