Story Summary:
- Clarification from Ministry: The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that students under 18 are not prohibited from taking WASSCE or NECO exams.
- Minister’s Statement: Dr. Yusuf Sununu, Minister of State for Education, addressed the issue on International Literacy Day in Abuja.
- Misinterpretation: Sununu explained that recent confusion arose from misinterpreted remarks by Education Minister Tahir Mamman regarding the 18-year age requirement for tertiary institutions.
- Education System Context: Mamman’s comments were related to the 6:3:3:4 education system’s entry age for universities.
The Federal Ministry of Education has dispelled rumors that students under 18 are barred from taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.
In a statement on Friday in Abuja, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, the Minister of State for Education, addressed the issue during the 2024 International Literacy Day celebration.
On August 25th, Education Minister Tahir Mamman announced that the Federal Government had directed WAEC and NECO to refuse examinations to underage students. However, Sununu clarified that this was a misinterpretation of Mamman’s comments.
Sununu explained that Mamman’s remarks pertained to the 18-year age requirement for entry into tertiary institutions under the 6:3:3:4 education system.
“We are considering this as a work-in-progress,” Sununu said. “It was shocking to learn that a university admitted students as young as 10, 11, and 12 years old, which is completely inappropriate.”
He acknowledged that while exceptional talents exist among younger students, there must be guidelines to identify such cases without prejudicing the majority.
“No one has banned underage students from taking WAEC, NECO, or any other examination. This is a misconception and a misrepresentation of our position,” NAN quoted him as saying.
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