The Nigerian Federal Minister of Education has spoken out to clarify that the government did not stop under-18 students from taking the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination and the National Examinations Council exams.
According to Dr Yusuf Sununu, the Minister of State for Education, the misconception and misinterpretation of what had been announced by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, on the matter was highly disappointing.
Sununu had made this known in Abuja on Friday while receiving questions from journalists at an event to mark the 2024 International Literacy Day.
He further explained that the minister was speaking on the 18 years of entry age into the tertiary institutions as was expected in the 6-3-3-4 system of education.
In his words,
“It was shocking to say that a university in this country gave admission to children at ages 10, 11 and 12 years. This is wrong.
“We are not saying that there are no exceptions; we know we can have talented students that have the IQ of an adult even at ages six and seven, but these are very few.
“Nobody said no child will write WAEC, NECO or any other examination unless at age 18. This is a misconception and misrepresentation of what we have said,” he finished.
Sununu’s explanation is coming as Nigerians rebuffed the recent announcement that under-18-year-old students were not eligible to sit for WAEC and NECO exams.
