Minister Clarifies No Ban On Under-18 Students For WASSCE, NECO

Minister Clarifies No Ban On Under-18 Students For WASSCE, NECO

The Federal Ministry of Education has stated that there is no ban on students under 18 from taking the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.

Dr. Yusuf Sununu, the Minister of State for Education, addressed this issue in Abuja on Friday during an event celebrating International Literacy Day 2024. His remarks clarified confusion following an August 25 statement by Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman, who had suggested that the government had instructed WAEC and NECO to exclude underage students.

Sununu emphasized that the statement was misinterpreted. He explained that Mamman’s comments referred to the age requirement for tertiary education entry, aligning with the 6:3:3:4 educational system. He expressed concern over reports of universities admitting very young students, describing this as inappropriate. While acknowledging the exceptional talents of some younger students, Sununu affirmed that no blanket ban exists for under-18 students to sit for these exams. The ministry is considering developing guidelines to better identify and support gifted children.