The Federal Government has prohibited individuals under the age of 18 from taking part in the National Examinations Council and West African Examinations Council exams.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman disclosed this when he featured on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ program on Sunday night.

Mamman explained that the federal government has directed WAEC, which conducts the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and NECO, which oversees the Senior School Certificate Examination to enforce the 18-year age requirement for candidates wishing to take these exams.

This, he said was not a new policy.

He added that the age limit for candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, remains set at 18 years.

He said, “It is 18 (years). What we did at the meeting that we had with JAMB (in July) was to allow this year and for it to serve as a kind of notice for parents that this year, JAMB will admit students who are below that age but from next year, JAMB is going to insist that anybody applying to go to university in Nigeria meets the required age which is 18.

“For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a new policy; this is a policy that has been there for a long time.

“Even basically if you compute the number of years pupils, and learners are supposed to be in school, the number you will end up with is 17 and a half – from early child care to primary school to junior secondary school and then senior secondary school. You will end up with 17 and a half by the time they are ready for admission.

“So, we are not coming up with new policy contrary to what some people are saying; we are just simply reminding people of what is existing. In any case, NECO and WAEC, henceforth will not be allowing underage children to write their examinations. In other words, if somebody has not spent the requisite number of years in that particular level of study, WAEC and NECO will not allow them to write the examination.”

“Even basically if you compute the number of years pupils, and learners are supposed to be in school, the number you will end up with is 17 and a half – from early child care to primary school to junior secondary school and then senior secondary school. You will end up with 17 and a half by the time they are ready for admission.

Rootprof:
So what will happen to students that are in age bracket of 12-15 in ss3 ? Will they sit at home for 3-6 years ?

vincenteger:
They should start with their children

It's not possible in Nigeria

BeeBeeOoh:


https://punchng.com/fg-to-enforce-18-year-age-limits-for-waec-neco-exams/#google_vignette

CyrusVI:


That actually good. Considering the fact that Mental maturity is needed to excel in some top courses in the Uni

I know there are exceptional cases whereby a 17year old student can top his class in the Uni, but exceptions dont make the rules

Nonsense talk. Nothing exceptional about being in uni at 16, 17 and being focused. They are actually the ones that are even at the forefront. Train your child up properly, you have little to worry about. We just find ways to stunt greatness in the country.



If you do not understand the relationship between age-dependent higher cognitive reasoning and Academic excellence, then I wont be surprised to see u attack this good development

CyrusVI:


That actually good. Considering the fact that Mental maturity is needed to excel in some top courses in the Uni

I know there are exceptional cases whereby a 17year old student can top his class in the Uni, but exceptions dont make the rules



If you do not understand the relationship between age-dependent higher cognitive reasoning and Academic excellence, then I wont be surprised to see u attack this good development

TEYA:
Very creative at coming up with stupid policies.