FG never banned under-18 candidates from writing SSCE, says Minister

Yusuf Sununu, the minister of state for education, says the federal government did not stop candidates below age 18 from writing the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

The minister spoke on Friday during a discourse around the 2024 International Literacy Day (ILD).

In July, the education ministry introduced a policy setting 18 as the minimum age for tertiary institution admissions.

It said the policy, which is to take effect in 2025, will ensure candidates are mature enough to deal with the rigours of tertiary education.

Nigeria operates the 6–3–3–4 system where a child enrols in school at age six for six years each of primary and secondary education.

At the end of secondary school, a Nigerian is expected to be aged 18 but many students often graduate at 16 or less due to skipped grades.

In August, the education ministry further declared that candidates who have not spent the required number of years in primary and secondary school would not be allowed to write the SSCE.

The policy, communicated to both the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO), stirred mixed interpretations in public discourse.

Sununu, while speaking on the matter, clarified that the policy has been “misinterpreted” by many Nigerians.

He said Tahir Mamman, the minister of education, only spoke regarding entry exams for tertiary institutions.

Sununu said the ministry’s age policy around tertiary education is generally still being considered at the national assembly.

He said lawmakers will assess other exceptions in the policy like students with high intelligence.

The minister of state said the ministry will develop a guideline to identify students with high-level IQ to avoid backlash from parents

“Nobody said no child will write WAEC, NECO or any other examination unless at age 18. This is a misrepresentation of what we have said,” he said.