Federal Government Bans Under-18s from NECO and WAEC Exams
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that individuals under the age of 18 will no longer be permitted to participate in the National Examinations Council (NECO) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams. This policy aims to ensure that all candidates have completed the necessary years of study before sitting for these critical exams.
Prof. Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, made this announcement during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ program. He clarified that this age restriction is not a new policy but rather a reinforcement of an existing regulation. According to Mamman, both NECO and WAEC have been instructed to strictly enforce this age requirement moving forward.
Mamman emphasized that the age limit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), remains set at 18 years. He highlighted that this year will serve as a transitional period for parents, with JAMB allowing some students below this age to apply. However, starting next year, JAMB will enforce the age requirement strictly, requiring all applicants to be at least 18 years old.
The Minister explained that the current policy aligns with the expected educational timeline. He noted that students typically reach the age of 17 and a half by the time they are ready for university admission, considering the full duration of their primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary education.
Mamman assured that the government is not introducing a new policy but rather reminding stakeholders of the existing regulation. He reiterated that NECO and WAEC will no longer accept underage candidates for their examinations, insisting that students must have completed the requisite number of years in their studies to be eligible to sit for these exams.
