FG Clarifies Age Limit For Under-18 WASSCE, UTME Students

The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that the ministry has not stopped under-18 students from the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination and the National Examinations Council exams.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, made the clarification in Abuja while fielding questions from journalists at an event to mark the 2024 International Literacy Day.

Sununu said it was highly disappointing that the public misinterpreted the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman’s words.

He said that the minister was speaking on the 18 years of entry age into the tertiary institutions as was practiced in the 6:3:3:4 system of education.

“We have agreed that we are going to consider it as a work-in-progress. The National Assembly is working and we are also working. It was shocking to say that a university in this country gave admission to children ages 10, 11, and 12 years. This is totally wrong.

“We are not saying that there are no exceptions; we know we can have talented students that have the IQ of an adult even at ages six and seven, but these are very few.

“There must be a rule, and the ministry is looking at developing a guideline on how to identify a talented child so that parents don’t say we are blocking their children’s chances.

“Nobody said no child will write WAEC, NECO, or any other examination unless at age 18. This is a misconception and misrepresentation of what we have said,” he said.

Speaking on International Literacy Day, Sununu underscored the critical role of literacy in fostering mutual understanding, peace, and socio-economic development.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing literacy challenges through the Education for Renewed Hope roadmap (2024-2027).

Meanwhile, UNESCO’s Country Representative, Diallo Abdourahamane, re-echoed that literacy remained a fundamental human right, hence the need to create a just, peaceful and sustainable society.

The ILD is celebrated annually on September 8 and is aimed at highlighting the importance of literacy to individuals, communities, and societies.