U-18 admission ban: FG’s directive spurs stakeholders’ debate
…Underage admission inflicting damage on varsities, education system – Education Minister
…As JAMB approves 140 cut-off mark for varsity admissions,100 for others
By Sodiq Adelakun
The Federal Government’s recent directive to bar candidates below the age of 18 from enrolling in tertiary institutions has ignited mixed reactions from Nigerians.
While some have commended the government’s effort to ensure that underage students are not admitted into universities, others have expressed concerns about the potential consequences of this policy.
Some have argued that this move may deny deserving young students the opportunity to pursue higher education, while others see it as a necessary step to maintain academic standards and prevent underage students from being overwhelmed by the demands of university life.
According to the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, the enrolment of underage candidates has been inflicting serious damage on the university and the education system, and this directive is intended to put an end to this practice.
With this new policy, only candidates who have attained the age of 18 will be eligible for admission into tertiary institutions, effective immediately.
This directive was given by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, at the 2024 Policy Meeting on Admissions to tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
According to the Minister, the enrolment of underage candidates is inflicting serious damage on the university and the education system.
He noted that the senate or respective academic boards of institutions have the mandate to initiate the admission process of each candidate, but JAMB as a regulatory body has the mandate by law to regulate the admission process to ensure fairness and equity.
The minister’s directive was met with protests from participants at the event, but he did not back down, explaining that the decision was already a policy of the federal government aimed at addressing some of the major problems facing tertiary institutions, especially universities in the country.
The minister also emphasised that the use of the mandatory National Identification Number (NIN) for JAMB registration is yielding the desired results, and that the ministry will continue to provide leadership, support, and encouragement to JAMB in its commitment to ensuring standard and best practices.
Additionally, the Minister spoke on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides interest-free loans to students, and the importance of inclusive education, particularly for Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs).
He congratulated the Registrar and management of JAMB for their remarkable initiatives and successes over the years and advised that the admission process should be built on reliability, equity, transparency, and inclusivity, for the benefit of all students.
It is the largest single educational policy assembly, comprising of heads of tertiary institutions (vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts), regulatory bodies (National Universities Commission, NUC], National Board for Technical Education,NBTE, National Commission for Colleges of Education,NCCE, and other strategic partners in the tertiary education sub-sector in Nigeria.
Even as he acknowledged that the senate or respective academic boards of institutions have the mandate to initiate the admission process of each candidate, the Minister noted that,”JAMB as a regulatory body has the mandate by law to regulate the admission process to ensure fairness and equity.”
He said, “When I was monitoring the just concluded 2024 UTME, I was alarmed at the participation of a large number of obviously under-age candidates in the examination which necessitated my comment on the need to enforce the extant provisions of the educational policies which made provision for 9 years of Basic Education and 3 years of Senior Secondary Education before entry into tertiary institution.
“It is clear that a child who, as expected is enrolled in basic school at the age of 6 and having undergone 12 years of education would be around 18 years old when being enrolled in a tertiary institution.
“Subsequent information has revealed that the enrolment of underage candidates is inflicting serious damage on the university and the education system, hence, the need for enforcement of extant rules.
“I have also been informed about the surge in applications for immediate requests for a change of age to reflect higher age in anticipation of the imminent enforcement of the age policy. This again reflects dangerous games being played with the life and future of innocent children by those expected to nurture them.
“Flowing from this, JAMB is hereby instructed to admit only eligible students’ i.e those who have attained 18 years. Universities are advised to avoid recommending unqualified children for admission.”
Nigerian NewsDirect gathered reactions from Nigerians on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the federal government’s directive to bar candidates below 18 from enrolling in tertiary institutions.
Counsellor Sunny Ejeje shared his personal experience, saying, “I remember entering university at 15 and completing school and NYSC before 22. It’s not like I finished and quickly got a job.”
Avocado (@Shile_matrix) pointed out the challenges of seeking admission, saying, “Some people will spend three years looking for admission, plus ASUU strikes, NYSC year, and then graduate only for employers to demand 27 years as the age threshold with two years of experience.”
@Petkoff raised a concern about candidates forging their birth certificates to gain admission, asking, “What if they fake their age?”
In the same vein, The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has set 140 and above as the cut off mark for 2022/23 admissions into universities across the country.
The Registrar of the board, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, disclosed this during a presentation at the 2023 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions and awards on Saturday in Abuja.
Oloyede said 100 had been approved as a cut off mark into Polytechnics and Colleges of Education. He explained that the aforementioned points were the minimum, but that does not mean that institutions must comply with it.
