Education Minister In Nigeria Tahir Mamman has announced that underage candidates will no longer be permitted to sit for secondary school leaving examinations. This directive affects the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) organized by the National Examinations Council (NECO).
Mamman disclosed this policy shift on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, stating, “The Federal Government has instructed WAEC and NECO to comply with the new 18-year age limit for any candidate to be eligible for these examinations.” He emphasized that this change is not a new policy but a reminder of existing regulations.
He added, “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.”
Mamman further explained the rationale behind the policy, saying, “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.” He clarified, “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.”
The minister also highlighted the expected timeline for students, noting, “Early care is expected to last for the first five years. Pupils are expected to begin primary one at the age of six, spend six years in primary school, and move to junior secondary school at the age of 12, spend three years, before moving to senior secondary school at the age of 15, to spend three more years and leave for university at the age of 18,” He said.
