Nigerian Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has announced that beginning next year, all prospective university students must meet a minimum age requirement of 18 years to be eligible for admission. This policy will also apply to candidates taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), both of which are essential qualifications for entering tertiary education. During an interview on Channels Television’s “Sunday Politics,” Minister Mamman emphasized that the federal government has formalized this age requirement, which has long been in place but not strictly enforced.
He clarified that underage students will no longer be permitted to sit the WASSCE, administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), or the SSCE, overseen by the National Examinations Council (NECO). Moreover, the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will now also require candidates to be at least 18 years old. Mamman explained that while the policy is not new, its enforcement has been lax, and the current directive serves as a reminder to parents and educational institutions. He noted that the typical academic trajectory from Early Childhood Education through senior Secondary School naturally aligns with the age of 18 by the time students are ready for university admission.
Detailed timeline of typical Nigerian education highlighted.
The Minister pointed out that the policy intends to ensure that students complete the full cycle of primary and secondary education, thereby achieving the necessary maturity before entering university. Also, Minister Mamman provided a detailed timeline for students’ educational progression: children are expected to begin early childhood care at age one, start primary school at age six, complete primary Education by age 12, move on to junior secondary school for three years, and then complete senior secondary school by age 18.
Notably, this structured pathway is designed to ensure that students are adequately prepared, both academically and socially, for the challenges of higher education. This decision is part of the government’s broader effort to improve the quality of education in Nigeria, ensuring that students entering universities are sufficiently mature and have undergone a comprehensive educational experience. The enforcement of this age requirement is also seen as a measure to curb the trend of underage candidates being rushed through the educational system, which has often led to issues related to academic preparedness and personal development.
There are arguments for and against the policy.
Of course, It can be argued that this policy is strange in that there is a strict enforcement of age restriction. According to the OECD, the average minimum age requirement for admission into universities in Western countries, particularly in the United States, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe, is generally 17 or 18 years old. In many Western countries, students typically enter university around the age of 18, which coincides with the completion of secondary education. The average graduation age varies depending on the course of study but generally falls between 22 and 24 years for undergraduate degrees. This timeline allows students to enter Higher Education after completing a full cycle of primary and secondary schooling, which is often seen as necessary for academic readiness and personal development.
Ensuring that there is an alignment between age and educational achievement is to make students possess the maturity, critical thinking skills, and social awareness required for the rigors of university life. In support of the education minister’s policy, enforcing a minimum admission age could ensure that students are more mature and better prepared for the rigors of higher education. This could potentially reduce dropout rates and improve academic performance, as students would likely have more life experience and a clearer sense of direction before embarking on their university journey. Additionally, such a policy might encourage students to gain practical experience or skills during a gap year, aligning with practices seen in some Western countries where students take time off between high school and university to work or travel, thereby arriving at university more focused and motivated.
Related Article: Debate on the Nigerian Tertiary Age Policy
On the other hand, one could argue against the strict enforcement of the age requirement. In many parts of Nigeria, students may start school later due to various socio-economic factors, meaning they could be older than their Western counterparts when completing secondary education. A rigid age policy might disadvantage these students, potentially delaying their academic and professional progress. The policy could also be seen as overly prescriptive, failing to account for individual differences in maturity and academic readiness. In some cases, students who are younger than 18 might be exceptionally talented and capable of handling university-level work, and the policy could unnecessarily restrict their opportunities for advancement.