Reps Support Age Limit for SSCE, UTME
The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education has backed the Federal Government’s decision to introduce a minimum age of 18 for candidates wishing to sit for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This policy, set to take effect in 2025, was initially announced by Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman in July and has since generated significant debate among parents, educators, and other stakeholders.
The policy seeks to ensure that students are more mature, both cognitively and physically, before moving on to higher education. In an exclusive interview, Mark Useni, Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education, explained that children as young as 12 being admitted into universities is a concerning trend, which the new policy is designed to address. According to Useni, the decision aligns with global standards, where the age of 18 is commonly regarded as the appropriate threshold for tertiary education entry.
Read Also:
The policy is rooted in the Universal Basic Education Act and mirrors existing age restrictions in other sectors such as the military, paramilitary institutions, and voting, all of which have an entry age of 18 in Nigeria. Useni noted that this move would encourage the intellectual and emotional development of young learners, helping them to better cope with the academic and social demands of university life.
To ensure a smooth transition, the House of Representatives engaged with the Ministry of Education. A key meeting, moderated by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, involved the ministers of education, key education officials, and representatives from examination boards. During this meeting, the officials discussed strategies for implementation, emphasizing the need to safeguard public interest and ensure students already in the system are not negatively impacted by the new age restriction.
The Ministry of Education has been tasked with developing a clear framework for the policy’s implementation, ensuring that students who are already in senior classes won’t be left in a state of uncertainty. This includes gathering data and providing guidelines to ensure that all stakeholders are well-prepared for the policy shift.
While the new policy has raised concerns among some parents, the House of Representatives is committed to supporting its implementation, emphasizing that the policy is in the long-term interest of the education system and future university students.
Source: Punch
https://punchng.com/reps-back-ban-on-under-18-ssce-utme-candidates/
