From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Government has directed that candidates below 18 years are no longer eligible for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria beginning from the 2025 admission year.
Minister of Education Prof Tahir Mamman announced the directive in Abuja, on Thursday, in his opening remarks at the 2024 Policy Meeting organized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to herald the commencement of the 2024 admission year.
He said the enforcement would have commenced with the 2024 admission year, but for the “protest and appeal” by the institutions citing the fact that candidates were not informed about the development before the commencement of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
He said the decision is in line with the recommendations of the National Policy on Education, thus directing that the enforcement start fully in the 2025 admission year.
He said: “I have been a Vice Chancellor for seven years. I have first-hand information and I have seen how these underage students struggle to cope in several ways whenever they are prematurely pushed into these universities prematurely.
“When I was monitoring the 2024 UTME, I was alarmed at the participation of a large number of obviously under-age candidates in the examination which necessitated my comment on the need to enforce the extant provisions of the educational policies which made provision for nine years of basic education and three years of senior secondary education before entry into tertiary institution.
“It’s clear that a child who, as expected is enrolled in basic school at the age of six and having undergone 12 years of education would be around 18 years old when being enrolled in a tertiary institution.
“Subsequent information revealed that the enrolment of underage candidates is inflicting serious damage on the university and the education system, hence, the need for enforcement of extant rules.
“I have also been informed about the surge in applications for immediate requests for a change of age to reflect higher age in anticipation of the imminent enforcement of the age policy. This, again, reflects dangerous games being played with the lives and futures of innocent children by those expected to nurture them.
“Flowing from this, JAMB is, hereby, instructed to admit only eligible students i.e. those who have attained 18 years. Universities are advised to avoid recommending unqualified children for admission.”
The Minister insisted that admissions criteria remain as approved and circulated. “All institutions must adhere strictly to them, and all other prescribed criteria by the regulatory bodies such as NUC, NBTE and NCCE, as well as other professional regulatory bodies, with particular reference to approved quotas, ratios and other specifications meant for improved quality, accountability and equity.”
“JAMB as a regulatory body has the mandate by law to regulate the admission process to ensure fairness and equity. Technology has been installed to ensure compliance with mutually agreed procedures. Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) is one of such technology-platforms,” he said.