National Telescope national telescope newspaper
The Federal Government has mandated that tertiary institutions refrain from admitting candidates under the age of 18.
“The minimum age of entry into the University is 18, but we have seen students who are 15, 16 years going in for the entrance examination,” stated Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during a recent oversight mission to monitor the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory.
Expressing concern, Mamman criticized parents who exert pressure on underage students to secure admission into higher institutions.
“We are going to look at this development because the candidates are too young to understand what the whole university education is all about,” he added.
He emphasized that the 18-year threshold aligns with the 6-3-3-4 education system, highlighting the inappropriate readiness of younger candidates for university life.
Mamman advocated for a balanced approach, stressing the importance of guiding students during their transition from controlled to independent environments.
“In overall, it is 20 per cent that can be admitted into the University, Polytechnic and Colleges of Education system. So, where will the 80 per cent go to? That is why the issue of skills acquisition is very important,” Mamman explained.
Supporting Mamman’s stance, JAMB spokesperson Dr. Fabian Benjamin reiterated that the age requirement of 18 corresponds with the educational framework.
Commending the conduct of the 2024 UTME, Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, particularly praised the implementation of online examinations as a strategic measure to curb malpractices, affirming the effectiveness of Computer Based Test (CBT) in minimizing irregularities.
