The federal government of Nigeria has given a strict order prohibiting individuals under the age of 18 from participating in the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO).
Prof. Tahir Mamma, minister of education, made this open to Nigerians while being featured on channel television’s Sunday Politics.
What is the age limit for WAEC in Nigeria?
FG has directed WAEC, which conducts the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, and NECO to ensure that the 18-year-old age requirement for candidates who want to sit for these exams.
Prof. Tahir went ahead to stated that this is not a new policy but a reinforcement of an existing policy. He further explained that this policy ensures that students have passed the exquisite age before taking this crucial examination.
Prof. Tahir continued to state that the meeting with JAMB this year is to admit below 18, but from next year, JAMB is going to make sure anyone that goes to school in Nigeria must meet that requirement age which is 18.
For the audience of doubt, he continued, it is never a new policy. If you calculate the number of years students are to be in school, it should end up at 17 and a half years, and by the time they are ready to gain admission, they are up to or more than 18.
We are not creating a new policy; rather, we are reminding people.
So henceforth, NECO and WAEC will not be allowing underage students to write these examinations again.
He narrated how the years should be spent: 3 to 5 years in the nursery section, 6 to 12 years in the primary section, 12 to 15 years in the junior secondary school, and 15 to 18 years in the senior secondary.
In the aspect of smart children who might be promoted to finish secondary school earlier than 18, Mr Tahir made it clear that the federal government will look into it and create a window for such a situation.