The Federal Government has issued a directive prohibiting the admission of candidates below the age of 18 into tertiary institutions across the country.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, made this announcement on Monday during a monitoring exercise of the ongoing 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory.
Expressing concern over the activities of some parents who pressure their underage children to gain admission into tertiary institutions, the minister emphasized that the 18-year benchmark aligns with the 6-3-3-4 system of education.
L
Mamman stated, “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. Parents should be encouraged not to push their wards too much. Mostly, it is the pressure of parents that is causing this.”
He further noted the importance of skill acquisition for students who may not gain admission into tertiary institutions, emphasizing the ministry’s efforts to introduce skills acquisition programs from primary school.
Corroborating the minister’s directive, the JAMB spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, reiterated that 18 years is in line with the 6-3-3-4 education system.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, commended the conduct of the 2024 UTME and praised the introduction of online examinations as a measure to curb malpractices, stating that the Computer Based Test (CBT) has significantly reduced examination malpractices.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate