The Federal Government’s recent decision to prohibit candidates under the age of 18 from taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the National Examination Council has drawn different reactions from the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, as reported by NewsNow.
Announcing the new age policy for secondary school leaving exams on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ program, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, stated that the minimum age for these examinations had been set at 18.
This policy implies that underage candidates will no longer be permitted to participate in the WASSCE and SSCE, both essential for progressing to higher education.
The directive also extends to the West African Examinations Council, which conducts the WASSCE, and the National Examinations Council responsible for the SSCE. Additionally, Mamman confirmed that the age requirement for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination overseen by JAMB would also be 18.
Emphasizing that this is not a new policy, Mamman clarified, “This is a longstanding policy.”
“Essentially, considering the typical years students are expected to spend in school, the total comes to 17 and a half years—from early childhood care to primary and junior secondary school before reaching the minimum age of 18 for admission,” Mamman explained.
“Therefore, this is not a new policy; we are simply reminding everyone of the existing policy. Going forward, both NECO and WAEC will enforce the age restriction, denying underage students the opportunity to sit for their exams,” Mamman added.
Further breaking down the expected duration of schooling between childhood and senior secondary education, Mamman outlined that early care spans five years, primary education begins at age six with a six-year duration, followed by three years in junior secondary at age 12, another three years in senior secondary starting at age 15, and finally, university at age 18.
In a previous meeting with JAMB and education stakeholders, Mamman had insisted on the 18-year age limit for UTME candidates.
He declared, “JAMB has been informed about the ban on underage students, those below 18, from our tertiary institutions for the 2024 admissions… It is not just a ministerial statement… we are reiterating the legal provision.”
However, the policy faced backlash, especially from university stakeholders, as many under-18 candidates had already taken the UTME without anticipating the rule change. This presented a dilemma for 16 and 17-year-olds who had passed the UTME and were seeking university admission.
Following the criticism, the minister reversed the decision, allowing 16-year-olds to be admitted to universities until 2025, the previous practice.
Nevertheless, Mamman reaffirmed the age policy in his recent announcement.
He stressed, “The age is 18. We made an allowance at the last JAMB meeting in July for this year, as a notice to parents that JAMB will accept candidates below the age of 18, but from next year, JAMB will enforce the 18-year age requirement for university admissions.”
In contrast, the Secretary-General of NUT, Dr. Mike Ene, criticized the policy in an interview with NewsNow, citing societal changes like early crèche enrollment due to economic factors that make age-based learning restrictions impractical.
Ene argued, “For this policy to be effective, it must start at the grassroots level, from primary school. Previously, children had to undergo basic tests before starting school, like touching the opposite ear with their hand. If they failed, they couldn’t attend. However, these days, economic pressures lead parents to enroll children in crèches early, where they start learning under teachers’ guidance. It is unrealistic to hinder learning, as the brain continually develops.”
He further raised concerns about exceptional students who demonstrate advanced academic abilities at a younger age, cautioning that the policy may trigger legal disputes and advised the government to reconsider, labeling it poorly conceived.
“Exceptional cases must be considered. Some students are 16 in SS3. How does the minister address their situation? Should they wait for two more years? This could lead to various legal challenges. The government needs to thoroughly review this policy; it lacks foresight,” Ene emphasized.
ASUP’s National President, Mr. Shammah Kpanja, echoed similar sentiments, advocating for exam eligibility based on students’ abilities rather than rigid age restrictions.
Kpanja urged the government to prioritize fundamental concerns like equipping schools with proper facilities, addressing infrastructure deficiencies, and enhancing teachers’ welfare, rather than fixating on age requirements for exams.
He highlighted, “If policies are unrealistic, they can lead to misinformation. Determining exam eligibility based on age versus student capabilities is crucial. Some students are exceptionally gifted and may not need the full education years if they exhibit high intelligence.
“The focus should be on ensuring schools have the necessary resources. In numerous villages around Abuja, children sit on bare floors in roofless buildings. These real issues demand attention. Prioritize teachers’ welfare and establish functional libraries in public secondary schools.”The government’s priorities are being questioned by a polytechnic lecturer who highlighted the inconsistency of allowing child marriages in the North while imposing restrictions on younger students taking WAEC exams. The lecturer emphasized the need for addressing infrastructure deficits rather than mundane issues.
The Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, mentioned that Vice-Chancellors would convene in September to deliberate on the policy and form a collective stance.
Prof. Ochefu expressed concerns over enforcing the existing 6-3-3-4 system in education, emphasizing that the policy has been longstanding but inconsistently enforced. He highlighted the need to adhere to age-specific educational levels and suggested alternatives for exceptionally gifted children.
Dr. Amos Dagnut, the Head of the National Office of WAEC, reiterated that educational regulations in Nigeria fall under the government’s jurisdiction, empowering them to enforce relevant policies.
The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, advocated for standard academic progression and criticized the rush for early university entry, emphasizing the importance of allowing children to mature before pursuing higher education.
Mallam Musa Ibrahim, the National President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, supported the government’s decision, attributing high failure rates in national examinations to emotionally immature students under 18.
Ibrahim emphasized the need for emotional maturity in students to prevent negative influences and advocated for nurturing mature individuals for university education. He cited instances of vulnerability and negative outcomes in younger students due to exposure to university environments prematurely.
The policy of disallowing students under 18 to take SSCE exams received backing from Ibrahim, who highlighted the problems arising from premature graduations and high failure rates, emphasizing the importance of considering maturity levels before advancing academically.