The Federal Government has introduced a significant new policy aimed at reforming the educational system in Nigeria, specifically by prohibiting students under the age of 18 from participating in the WAEC and NECO examinations. This change marks a critical shift in the way academic progression is structured for young learners in the country.
Education Minister Tahir Mamman made the announcement during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he discussed the broader implications of this policy for the nation’s education sector. The decision, he explained, is part of a wider effort to ensure that students are adequately prepared, both intellectually and emotionally, before undertaking such significant academic assessments.
According to Mamman, the government has given explicit instructions to both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to strictly enforce this age requirement. This means that going forward, only students who meet the minimum age of 18 will be eligible to sit for these critical examinations. The enforcement of this rule is intended to standardize the age at which students complete their secondary education and transition into higher education or other career paths.
In addition to this, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will also be implementing a new minimum age requirement of 18 years for university admissions, beginning with the upcoming academic year. This decision will impact the next admissions cycle and is being introduced as a transition period to allow parents and students to adjust to the new requirements. The policy is designed to ensure that students entering university are at an appropriate age to handle the academic and social demands of higher education.
The statement from the Minister elaborates on this transition, stating: “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 clarified that this is not a new policy but rather the enforcement of an existing guideline that has not been strictly followed in the past. He pointed out that, in principle, if the educational timeline from early childhood care through to senior secondary school is followed correctly, students should naturally reach the age of 17 and a half by the time they are ready for university admissions. The policy, therefore, seeks to reinforce the importance of following this academic timeline.
The Minister emphasized that NECO and WAEC will no longer allow underage children to take their exams, ensuring that students who have not spent the requisite number of years at each educational level will not be permitted to sit for these crucial tests. This policy is part of a broader effort to improve the quality of education in Nigeria, by making sure that students are not rushed through their schooling and that they receive the full benefit of each stage of their academic journey.
