Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education, has changed the minimum age for admissions into Tertiary Institutions for 2024 from 18 to 16 years. This follows the backlash from stakeholders at the ongoing Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) policy meeting.

Stakeholders argued that 18 years as the minimum age is too high, and the decision comes at the wrong time, giving that candidates below 18 have already written the exams.

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Stakeholders including Vice Chancellors and Rectors also kicked against the age enforcement, saying the decision will force students below 18 years to stay at home for two to three years more, since they were not informed earlier of their ineligibility.

Responding, Mamman said the points raised are valid and thereby, the minimum age be reduced from 18 to 16

However, he said this is just for the 2024 admissions and subsequently years 18 years will be the minimum age.

Following, as recommended by stakeholders, JAMB sets minimum tolerance score for admissions into Universities at 140 and minimum score into Polytechnics and Colleges of Education at 100

Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB’s Registrar noted that the scores are minimum tolerance and not cut-off marks, to avoid misunderstanding among candidates

Maman’s insistence
Tahir Mamman, the minister of education had reinstated the ministry’s position on banning candidates under the age of 18 from seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

“JAMB is hereby notified that there is now a ban on underaged students, those under the age of 18 into our tertiary institutions from this 2024 admissions,” he said.

Furthermore, the minister revealed that the federal government was considering the adoption of 18 years as the entry age for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions of learning in the country.

The minister of education had in April said that the federal government would look into adopting 18 years as the minimum age for entry into tertiary institutions in the country.

The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tetfund had also on April 23 said it would back the decision of the federal government to adopt 18 years as age limit for enrollment in tertiary institutions.

According to the FRCN report, “Muntari Dandutse, the committee chairman made this known when he led other members and the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, to monitor the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME in Abuja.”

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Dandutse explained that having a minimum age limit for university education was necessary to maintain standards and ensure the students were ready for the task ahead.

He commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for the smooth conduct of the examination so far and expressed the government’s commitment to improving the educational system.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tetfund advised the candidates to be focused and shun any act of malpractice during the examination.

Sunday Karimi, a member of the committee, representing Kogi West said the Senate would support any policy geared towards enhancing the education sector.

“The law is there, but if it means to check it and amend and make sure we have a robust law, we are going to do that,” Karimi said.