Federal Government Sets Minimum Age for Secondary School Leaving Examinations at 18

 Education Minister Tahir Mamman announced during an interview on Channels Television's "Sunday Politics" that the Federal Government has implemented a new age policy for secondary school leaving examinations, setting the minimum age at 18.

This policy means that underage candidates will no longer be permitted to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), both essential for progressing to higher education. The directive applies to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), which conducts the WASSCE, and the National Examinations Council (NECO), responsible for the SSCE. Additionally, Minister Mamman confirmed that the minimum age requirement for taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will also be set at 18.

"It is 18 years," Minister Mamman stated. He explained that the recent meeting with JAMB in July served as a notice to parents, allowing this year to be a transition period. From next year onwards, JAMB will enforce the age requirement, ensuring that only candidates who meet the minimum age of 18 can apply for university admission in Nigeria.

He clarified that this policy is not new but has been in place for some time, emphasizing that the standard progression through the education system would naturally result in students reaching the age of 18 by the time they are ready for university. "Even if you calculate the years from early child care to senior secondary school, students should be around 17 and a half years old when they are ready for admission," Mamman added.

The minister further outlined the expected timeline for students, starting with five years in early care, six years in primary school (beginning at age six), three years in junior secondary school, and three years in senior secondary school, culminating in university admission at age 18.

Moving forward, both WAEC and NECO will enforce this policy, ensuring that students who have not completed the required years of study will not be allowed to sit for their exams.