'FG Didn’t Stop Under-18s From Writing WAEC, NECO' – Education Minister, Yusuf Clarifies

Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Education has clarified that the government has not stopped under-18 students from taking the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination and the National Examinations Council exams.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, clarified in Abuja on Friday while receiving questions from journalists at an event to mark the 2024 International Literacy Day.

He described the misconception and misinterpretation of what was said by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, on the matter as highly disappointing.

He explained that the minister was speaking on the 18 years of entry age into the tertiary institutions as was practiced in the 6-3-3-4 system of education.

“It was shocking to say that a university in this country gave admission to children at ages 10, 11 and 12 years. This is wrong.

“We are not saying that there are no exceptions; we know we can have talented students that have the IQ of an adult even at ages six and seven, but these are very few.

“Nobody said no child will write WAEC, NECO or any other examination unless at age 18. This is a misconception and misrepresentation of what we have said,” he said.

This comes as Nigerians rejected the position that under-18-year-old students cannot sit for WAEC and NECO.