Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, has clarified that the government has not imposed any age restrictions on students under 18 from sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.
Speaking at an event in Abuja marking the 2024 International Literacy Day, Sununu addressed misconceptions regarding recent statements made by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman. He emphasized that the comments had been misinterpreted and that the government’s position was focused on the appropriate entry age for tertiary institutions, not secondary school exams.
“There was a misunderstanding of the minister’s statement regarding the 18-year entry age into tertiary institutions under the 6-3-3-4 system. It is concerning to hear that some universities in Nigeria have admitted students as young as 10, 11, or 12 years, which is not ideal,” Sununu explained.
He clarified that while exceptional cases of highly gifted children could exist, these instances are rare. However, he stressed that there is no policy preventing students under 18 from taking WAEC, NECO, or any other national examinations.
“Nobody has said that children cannot sit for these exams unless they are 18. The misrepresentation of the minister’s words has led to unnecessary confusion,” he added.
This clarification comes after widespread backlash from Nigerians who opposed the idea of restricting under-18 students from taking crucial secondary school examinations.
