The Federal Government’s clarification of its restriction on underage pupils being admitted to postsecondary education institutions has been praised by the Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN).
In an interview with Newsmen in Lagos on Sunday, Mr. Adeolu Ogunbanjo, the Deputy Chairman of NAPTAN, expressed his gratitude.
Ogunbanjo stated that the clarification provided a clear picture of the policy and will remove misconceptions.
According to NAN, the Federal Ministry of Education stated on Friday that the government does not prevent pupils under the age of 18 from taking the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
According to the ministry, the government just prevents minors from applying to or being accepted into postsecondary educational institutions.According to Ogunbanjo, NAPTAN was relieved that the government had addressed the matter, as it had been causing anxiety.
“People now have a better understanding that students under the age of 18 can write the WASSCE and NECO,” he said, citing the most recent development from the administration. Ogunbanjo also urged the federal government to lower the entrance requirement for postsecondary education institutions to 16 years old.
He suggested that academic progress should be permitted for gifted pupils to happen more quickly. “We implore the government to maintain the 16-year-old university entrance age so that exceptional individuals can enrol in higher education, as the world is changing,” Ogunbanjo stated.
At the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board’s 2024 Policy Meeting in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Mr. Tahir Mamman, gave the board the order to establish an 18-year-old minimum entry criteria for tertiary education institutions.
In Essence
The Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has rightly praised this move, as it dispels the misconceptions surrounding the issue and provides a clear policy framework.
By reaffirming that students under 18 can still sit for national exams like NECO and WASSCE, the government reassures stakeholders that younger students won’t be barred from continuing their academic journey.
However, the stipulation that students must be 18 to enter tertiary institutions could have mixed implications.
On one hand, it ensures that students are more mature before entering higher education, which might contribute to better social adjustment and emotional readiness for the challenges of university life.
Also, the call by NAPTAN to lower the minimum age to 16 has merit, especially for gifted students who are academically advanced
