The Federal government of Nigeria may soon adopt 18 years as the entry age for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions of learning.
This is according to the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman who made the statement yesterday.
According to him, the federal government’s planned move is aimed at curbing some challenges faced by underage students found in tertiary institutions across the country.
The minister also accused underage students of being responsible for some of the problems being encountered in higher institutions.
Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said that it is in support of the Federal Government’s initiative regarding setting the minimum age for university admission at 18 years.
Speaking to newsmen, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, expressed approval of the Federal Government’s proposition describing it as a welcome development.
He said, “We are in full support. It is the right thing. What the minister said is the correct thing,”
“The issue of age benchmark is not a new thing. It’s just that regulators have not been doing their work.
“In those days, you could not go to primary school if you were not six years old. Then you spend six years and finish at age 12; and then by the time you get to secondary school you spend six years and then you graduate by 18.”
Reacting to the development, some Nigerians have expressed worry over the proposed age benchmark while citing some social and economic realities and how it may affect the current system. Sharing his thoughts via a post on Twitter, a Nigerian identified as Victor Obasi called attention to the fact that many Nigerians nowadays finish their secondary education three years before they clock 18. He wondered how such persons would be made to wait for three years before they can get into school because of the new policy.
Victor wrote, “The only place you’ll find ASUU is where oblivious policies are put in place!
“Imagine putting three years of your life on hold because people in charge of education in your country still think we’re in the old days! May God Help Us 🤲🏻”
On his part, another Nigerian X user identified as Jikason, expressed worry over the prevalent standard of many Nigerian schools and the learning experiences of students which he said is very poor thereby, limiting the ability of students to excel in their O’level certificate examinations and JAMB in one sitting.
He wrote, “Yesterday in my response to this I also supported this considering the negative impact that comes with underage student in the university but on the other hand, the standard of many schools and leaning is very poor that to pass O level and jamb some spend over years writing it.”
Recall that the standard admission age currently set by most tertiary institutions in Nigeria is 16 years unless a candidate is certified as gifted.
However, in 2021, the Senate announced plans to amend the law establishing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, to limit the age of a candidate sitting for the UTME to 16 years and above.
According to reports, the then Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Basic Education, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, indicated during the committee’s oversight visit to JAMB, saying this would prevent underage from participating in the examination, to gain admission into universities in Nigeria.
But Mamman, speaking while monitoring the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in Abuja, cautioned parents against pushing their children and wards ‘too much’.
This, he said, would allow them to attain some level of maturity to be able to better manage their affairs.
