The Federal Government has made a dramatic turn in policy to declare that there will no longer be age limit for students who want to write the West African Examination Council and National Examination Council. This is in the face of very conflicting reports over age limits for the same exams.
Clarification by the FG
The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, who briefed journalists in Abuja on Friday. Speaking ahead of the 2024 World Literacy Day, Sununu said again that there had been no formal directive stopping under-18 students from taking WAEC and NECO.
From this, it is adduced that the only age-related policy has to do with admission into the universities and sitting for UTME, which shall be done on the qualification that such candidates must have attained at least the age of 18 years by 2025.
Misconstruction of Minister’s Statement
Sununu said the speculation on age restriction for WAEC and NECO examination was due to misinterpretation of comments by Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman. He added that the restriction was only for UTME and in tandem with the National Policy on Education, which advised an age of 18 as minimum for university admission.
Policy Details
The National Policy on Education dictates that children are supposed to start primary school at the age of six and are expected to spend six years in primary and another six in secondary school. This structure places students at 18 years old by the time they are ready for tertiary education. However, no restrictions were placed on taking WAEC, NECO, or the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, NABTEB, examinations.
Sununu tied the explanation to this year’s World Literacy Day theme, “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace,” placing education in mother languages at the earliest years of the learners’ stage.
This statement is likely to douse worries among students and parents who had felt the restrictions on age would affect their children’s future performance.
What it means for Nigerians Students?
With this statement, Nigerians who are below 18 years can now enroll for the forthcoming WAEC and NECO Examinations.
