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Nigeria’s Education Minister, Tahir Mamman, has declared war on academic dishonesty, vowing to bar underage students from participating in secondary school leaving examinations.
The Minister made this declaration during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics program, shedding light on the government’s commitment to educational reform.
The Minister disclosed that the Federal Government has mandated WAEC and NECO to implement an age restriction, requiring candidates to be at least 18 years old to sit for WASSCE and SSCE, thereby streamlining the examination process.
“Even basically if you compute the number of years pupils, and learners are supposed to be in school, the number you will end up with is 17 and a half – from early child care to primary school to junior secondary school and then senior secondary school. You will end up with 17 and a half by the time they are ready for admission.
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“So, we are not coming up with new policy contrary to what some people are saying; we are just simply reminding people of what is existing.
“In any case, NECO and WAEC, henceforth will not be allowing underage children to write their examinations. In other words, if somebody has not spent the requisite number of years in that particular level of study, WAEC and NECO will not allow them to write the examination.”
The Minister presented a clear roadmap for pupils’ educational progression, outlining the anticipated number of years to be spent in childcare, primary education, and secondary education, up to senior secondary school, for a well-structured academic journey.
Minister Mamman’s breakdown showed a logical educational sequence, where pupils undergo five years of early care, then progress to primary school at six, junior secondary school at 12, and senior secondary school at 15, completing their secondary education at 18, before advancing to university.
