FG’s Under-18 Ban for WASSCE: ASUU, NUT Voice Strong Reactions

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has condemned the Federal Government’s recent decision to ban under-18 candidates from sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO) exams. In contrast, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has backed the policy, emphasizing its alignment with educational standards.

On Sunday, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced the new age policy, setting the minimum age for secondary school leaving examinations, including WASSCE and SSCE, at 18. This move bars underage candidates from these critical exams required for advancing to tertiary education in Nigeria.

The directive also extends to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), which oversee the WASSCE and SSCE exams, respectively. Furthermore, Prof. Mamman confirmed that the minimum age requirement for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will also be 18.

Prof. Mamman clarified that this policy is not new but a reinforcement of existing laws. He provided a detailed breakdown of the expected educational timeline, starting from early care at age six to senior secondary school graduation at age 18.

However, the policy has sparked criticism, particularly from university stakeholders. Concerns have been raised about students aged 16 and 17, who had already passed the UTME and were seeking university admission, being affected by this sudden change. Following the backlash, the minister temporarily reversed the directive, allowing under-18 candidates to be admitted into universities until 2025. Despite this, Prof. Mamman reiterated on Sunday that the age policy would be strictly enforced from next year.

Dr. Mike Ene, Secretary-General of NUT, argued that societal changes, such as early enrollment in crèches due to economic pressures, make the age restriction unrealistic. He noted that exceptional students, who may be younger but academically advanced, are not considered in this policy. He also warned that the policy could lead to legal challenges, urging the government to rethink its decision.

In contrast, ASUP National President, Mr. Shammah Kpanja, suggested that the decision to allow students under 18 to sit for exams should depend on their abilities. He advised the government to focus on more pressing issues like providing functional equipment in schools, addressing infrastructure deficits, and improving teachers’ welfare, rather than enforcing age restrictions for exams. Kpanja also pointed out the inconsistency of government policies, such as allowing child marriages in the North while restricting younger students from taking WAEC.

 “Did their children sit for WASSCE at 18 years? You allow young girls to marry at 12 in the North, but they can’t take WAEC at 16? What are the government’s priorities?”

The debate over the age policy continues to generate significant discourse among educators and stakeholders, reflecting broader concerns about Nigeria’s education system and its alignment with the country’s socio-economic realities.