The Federal Government has moved to enforce the 18-year age limit for secondary school certificate examinations in the country.
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, announced this in a Channels Television’s programme, Sunday Politics.
He said the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) have been directed to comply with the directive.
Mamman stressed that the age limit for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates remains 18 years, and JAMB would no longer admit underage students from next year.
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The minister clarified that this is not a new policy, but rather a reminder of existing regulations.
The move aims to ensure students complete the required number of years in school before sitting for exams.
Mamman explained that computing the typical duration of early child care, primary school, junior secondary school, and senior secondary school yields a total of 17.5 years, aligning with the 18-year age limit.
The minister 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.
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