The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, hs revealed plans of the ministry to develop guidelines that will enable exceptionally brilliant students gain admission into tertiary institutions before the age of 18 years.
Mamman spoke while giving a keynote address at the Ministerial Session of the 68th National Council on Education (NCE) meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
The theme of the 68th NCE meeting was; “Innovation, Digital Technology and Entrepreneurship: Tools for Education and National Development in the 21st Century”. He emphasised the need for clarity regarding the policy on 18-years admission age, which dominated public discourse recently.
The minister had earlier stated that beginning from 2025, candidates under 18 years of age would not be allowed to sit for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), a prerequisite for admission to higher institutions.
The policy had sparked widespread arguments, with education stakeholders and parents expressing diverse views on the policy.
At the NCE meeting, Mamman noted that the ministry is working to establish guidelines for exceptionally brilliant students who might not fit the age requirement.
“There is a need to clarify the misconceptions surrounding the 18 years age limit for university admissions. The ministry is simply emphasising the age requirement for entry into tertiary institutions as outlined in the National Policy on Education, the UBEC Act, and the Education (Minimum) Standards Act 1993. It is not about the age for participating in WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, or any ordinary level examinations,” he said.