The Federal Government has refuted claims that it imposed an 18-year age restriction for students sitting for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE), including those conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO).
In a press briefing in Abuja yesterday ahead of the 2024 World Literacy Day, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Sununu, clarified that the age restriction only applies to candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and seeking university admission, effective from 2025.
Dr Sununu stressed that the government’s policy regarding age limits for education has been misinterpreted, explaining that the 18-year age limit is based on the National Policy on Education, which stipulates that a child enters primary school at six, completes six years in primary education, and spends three years each in junior and senior secondary school, culminating at 18 years of age.
However, this policy pertains to university entry and not to exams conducted by WAEC, NECO, or the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
“Neither I nor the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has ever stated that there is an age limit for WAEC or NECO exams. The age restriction only applies to the UTME in line with the National Policy on Education, which is intended to guide entry into higher education,” Sununu explained.
The clarification came during a press conference to mark the upcoming World Literacy Day, themed “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace.”
Dr. Sununu emphasized the significance of using a learner’s mother tongue in early education, a practice encouraged by the National Policy on Education, which recommends teaching in the local language up to primary three before transitioning to English.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult, and Non-Formal Education, Prof. Akpama Iboro, reiterated the importance of multilingual literacy, stating that literacy is more than the ability to read and write in one language. He highlighted the Commission’s commitment to promoting literacy across Nigeria’s diverse linguistic landscape, ensuring that multilingual education is integrated into national literacy programs.
The Country Director for UNESCO, Abdourahamane Diallo, commended the government’s efforts in promoting literacy and assured continued support from UNESCO for initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s education system.
