The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education has indicated that the Federal Government’s recent decision to set a minimum age for candidates taking the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination is likely to remain in effect.
In July, Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman announced that starting in 2025, candidates under the age of 18 would not be permitted to sit for the SSCE, and without this certification, these students would be ineligible for admission to higher education institutions.
This announcement has sparked intense discussions among parents and education stakeholders.
In a report,Mark Useni, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education, explained why the Federal Government is unlikely to reverse this decision.
He stated, “The Committees on Basic Education and Examination Boards brought this issue to the attention of the House of Representatives leadership. The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, quickly designated the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvere, to facilitate a meeting between the two committees and the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.
“This meeting took place on Wednesday, September 4, and was attended by the minister, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, as well as the heads of the basic education examination bodies.”
The minister clarified that the policy regarding the 18-year age requirement for university entry was established prior to the implementation of the 6-3-3-4 educational system. He noted that this policy is also grounded in the Universal Basic Education Act.
Prof. Tahir noted that the policy is not unique to Nigeria and pointed out that military and paramilitary institutions also set the entry age at 18 years. He further mentioned that the voting age in Nigeria is also established at 18.
Useni, a member of the All Progressives Congress representing the Takum/Donga/Ussa Federal Constituency in Taraba State, expressed concern over the fact that children as young as 12 are being made to seek admission into universities.
“While the policy aims to ensure that children advance their education in tandem with their cognitive and physical development, the Ministry of Education should establish a framework for a smooth transition into full policy implementation.
“The Ministry must also guarantee that students who are already advancing in their senior secondary classes are not left without options after completing that level of education.
“We have instructed the minister and his team to devise strategies for implementing the policy based on the data available to the ministry, ensuring that it does not undermine public interest,” he added.
