The Federal Government has issued a directive stipulating that candidates seeking admission to tertiary institutions must be at least 18 years old.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during a recent monitoring exercise of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) held in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory.
Expressing concern over the undue pressure exerted by some parents on underage students to secure admissions, Minister Mamman emphasised that the 18-year benchmark aligns with the 6-3-3-4 education system.
“It’s imperative that the minimum age for university entry is 18,” Mamman stated, citing instances of candidates as young as 15 or 16 attempting the entrance examination.
He urged parents to refrain from pushing their wards prematurely into higher education, stressing that such pressure could be detrimental as young students may not fully grasp the responsibilities and challenges of university life.
Highlighting the need for alternative pathways for students unable to gain admission to tertiary institutions, the minister underscored the importance of skill acquisition programmes, which the ministry is extending to pupils as early as primary school.
Dr. Fabian Benjamin, spokesperson for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), echoed the minister’s stance on the age requirement, stating that it harmonizes with the 6-3-3-4 education model.
Meanwhile, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, Minister of State for Education, commended the conduct of the 2024 UTME, particularly praising the introduction of online examinations as a measure to combat malpractices. He lauded the effectiveness of the Computer Based Test (CBT) format in reducing exam irregularities and applauded the Board for maintaining high standards while ensuring accessibility.
