FG Reiterates Ban on Under-18s from Writing WAEC, NECO Exams

The Federal Government has reaffirmed prohibiting individuals under 18 from participating in the National Examinations Council (NECO) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams.

This directive was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during his appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ program on Sunday night.

Mamman explained that the federal government has instructed both WAEC, which administers the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), and NECO, which oversees the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), to enforce the 18-year age requirement for candidates wanting to sit for these exams.

The Minister clarified that this is not a new policy but a long-standing one that the government emphasises once more.

He noted that the age limit for candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), remains at 18 years.

Mamman stated, “It is 18 (years). What we did at the meeting with JAMB (in July) was to allow this year as a kind of notice for parents.

This year, JAMB will admit students who are below that age, but from next year, JAMB will insist that anybody applying to go to university in Nigeria meets the required age, which is 18.”

He emphasised that the policy is based on the expected number of years students should spend in school, which typically adds up to around 17 and a half years by the time they are ready for admission.

“So, we are not introducing a new policy, contrary to what some people are saying; we are simply reminding people of what already exists. From now on, NECO and WAEC will not allow underage children to write their examinations. In other words, if a student has not completed the requisite number of years at a particular level of study, WAEC and NECO will not permit them to take the exams,” Mamman added.

Read: For Economic Recovery, Nigerian Govt. Must Stop Inconsistent Policies and Weaponising Insecurity- Okonjo-Iweala

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