The Federal Government has enforced a new regulation barring individuals under the age of 18 from participating in the National Examinations Council (NECO) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams.
This policy was revealed by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during his appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ program.
Prof. Mamman clarified that this directive mandates WAEC and NECO to uphold the age restriction for candidates wishing to sit for their examinations.
He emphasized that this is not a new policy but a reaffirmation of existing regulations.
The Minister also addressed the age requirement for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The age limit for UTME candidates remains at 18 years. However, Mamman noted that JAMB will admit students below this age for the current year as a transitional measure.
Starting next year, JAMB will strictly enforce the 18-year age requirement for university admissions.
Mamman explained that the age limit aligns with the educational timeline, noting that students typically reach the appropriate age of 17 and a half upon completing their schooling before university entry. This policy reminder aims to ensure candidates meet the requisite academic progression before sitting for the exams.
NECO and WAEC will now rigorously apply this age criterion, rejecting underage candidates who have not completed the required years of study.
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