Education Minister Tahir Mamman has announced that underage candidates will no longer be permitted to take secondary school leaving examinations. During an appearance on Channels Television’s *Sunday Politics*, the minister revealed that the Federal Government has directed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to enforce the age requirement of 18 years for candidates sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
Mamman also reaffirmed that the minimum age for candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) remains 18 years. He clarified that while students below 18 years were still allowed to take the exam this year as a transitional measure, starting next year, JAMB will strictly enforce the age limit.
He emphasized that this is not a new policy, but rather an existing one that is being reinforced. “Even if you calculate the standard progression through the education system—from early child care to primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary levels—a student should be around 17 and a half years old by the time they are ready for university admission,” Mamman explained.
He also stated that, moving forward, NECO and WAEC will not allow underage students to take their exams if they have not completed the necessary number of years at each educational level.
The minister outlined the expected timeline for students: five years in early child care, followed by starting primary school at age six and spending six years there. After completing junior secondary school by age 12 and spending three years there, students would then proceed to senior secondary school, finishing at age 18 and becoming eligible for university admission.
From next year, JAMB is going to insist that anybody applying to go to university in Nigeria meets the required age which is 18.
NECO and WAEC, henceforth will not be allowing underage children to write their examinations – Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman. pic.twitter.com/8ltaQGSMt8
— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) August 26, 2024