The ongoing Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions, organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja, witnessed heated discussions over the appropriate minimum age for university admission.
The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, initially announced a directive that only candidates aged 18 and above would be admitted into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The minister claimed that the move was aimed at aligning with Nigeria’s educational laws, which follow a 6-3-3-4 system.
The announcement, however, was met with strong opposition from stakeholders, including university vice-chancellors, registrars, and other officials.
The hall erupted in grumbling and discontent as soon as the minister’s directive was made.
Stakeholder Reactions
Vice Chancellor of Elizade University, Professor Kayode Thadius Ijiadunola, led the opposition by proposing that the minimum age requirement be set at 16 years.
“What happens to those who have written this year’s exams and passed their exams? We reject 18 years as the minimum age requirement and are proposing 16 years,” he argued, receiving massive support from other heads of institutions and participants at the meeting.
Professor Is-haq Oloyede, the Registrar of JAMB, also weighed in on the debate, questioning the urgency of the new age limit.
“The only point is they have taken examinations and at that time they were not told or aware and therefore if we want to enforce it, it should be from subsequent years,” he said.
Minister’s Concession
Faced with overwhelming opposition, Professor Mamman conceded to the demands of the stakeholders.
“I can work with that but I want to remind you of one thing, even that argument cannot stand if we want to go by the law which states 6-3-3-4 as our system of education, it won’t stand but for practical reasons, for this year, I will allow it to stand,” he stated.
This concession was met with applause from the attendees.
Future Implications
Despite the concession for the current year, the minister reiterated the importance of adhering to the legal educational framework in the future.
“Our laws require students to be in school from six years—Yes, there are those who do that from five—, and remain in primary school for six years, basic education for three years, and secondary school for three years… It doesn’t require a statement of the minister… we are only restating what is in the law,” he emphasized.
Professor Oloyede affirmed the minister’s decision, stating, “We thank the minister for conceding but from next year we will enforce it.”
The debate continues
The debate over the appropriate age for university admission in Nigeria highlights the tension between legal frameworks and practical realities.
While the immediate concession allows 16-year-olds to gain admission this year, the move towards enforcing an 18-year minimum age requirement in the future underscores the government’s commitment to upholding educational laws.
The policy meeting, an annual event, serves as a critical forum for stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector to deliberate and set guidelines for admissions into tertiary institutions.
The resolution of this debate will likely have significant implications for future admissions processes and the broader educational landscape in Nigeria.
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