The Federal Government has introduced a brand new coverage prohibiting college students underneath the age of 18 from sitting for WAEC and NECO examinations.
Schooling Minister Tahir Mamman revealed this coverage throughout an interview on Channels Tv’s Sunday Politics.
In keeping with Mamman, the federal government has directed each the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Nationwide Examinations Council (NECO) to implement this rule, guaranteeing that solely college students who meet the age requirement can take these exams.
Moreover, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will implement a minimal age of 18 for college admissions beginning subsequent yr.
This coverage will have an effect on the upcoming admissions cycle, which can function a transition interval earlier than the rule takes full impact.
The assertion reads:
“It’s 18 (years). What we did on the assembly that we had with JAMB (in July) was to permit this yr and for it to function a sort of discover for fogeys that this yr, JAMB will admit college students who’re beneath that age however from subsequent yr, JAMB goes to insist that anyone making use of to go to school in Nigeria meets the required age, which is eighteen.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this isn’t a brand new coverage; this can be a coverage that has been there for a very long time.
“Even mainly, in case you compute the variety of years pupils, and learners are alleged to be in class, the quantity you’ll find yourself with is 17 and a half – from early youngster care to main college to junior secondary college after which senior secondary college.
“You’ll find yourself with 17 and a half by the point they’re prepared for admission.
“In any case, NECO and WAEC, henceforth won’t be permitting underage youngsters to jot down their examinations.
“In different phrases, if any person has not spent the requisite variety of years in that individual degree of examine, WAEC and NECO won’t enable them to jot down the examination.”
