Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced on Monday that the Federal Government is contemplating setting 18 years as the minimum age for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions. Mamman also criticized underage students for contributing to some of the challenges encountered in higher education institutions.
President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed support for the government’s proposal, highlighting the importance of age benchmarks in education. He emphasized that in the past, age benchmarks were standard practice, ensuring students reached certain milestones before advancing to higher levels of education.
Currently, most tertiary institutions in Nigeria set the admission age at 16 years, except for exceptionally gifted candidates.
In 2021, the Senate proposed amending the law governing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to mandate that candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) be at least 16 years old. The amendment aimed to prevent underage candidates from participating in the examination and gaining admission into universities.
However, Mamman cautioned against pushing children and wards too much academically, emphasizing the importance of allowing them to mature before pursuing higher education.
Regarding the ongoing 2024 UTME, Mamman commended JAMB for its seamless examination process, attributing the reduction in examination malpractice to the adoption of technology. He also acknowledged the high demand for admission into tertiary institutions and emphasized the importance of skills acquisition in preparing youth for the future.
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, lauded JAMB for its high standards and reliability in conducting examinations, noting that the UTME was even being administered in Saudi Arabia.
Overall, the government’s proposal to set 18 years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions aims to address challenges associated with underage students and ensure a more mature and prepared student body.
Additionally, the emphasis on skills acquisition underscores the government’s commitment to empowering youth beyond traditional academic pathways.
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