The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified issues and misconceptions currently trending in the media space, concerning the ban on under-18 students from writing the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
While answering questions from newsmen at an event to celebrate the 2024 International Literacy Day (ILD), in Abuja, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, stated that the ministry did not stop students who are not up to 18 years old from writing WASSCE and NECO examinations, adding that the public misconstrued and misinterpreted what was said by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.
According to him, 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.
“We have agreed that we are going to consider it as a work-in-progress. The National Assembly is working and we are also working.
“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 age 6 and 7, but these are very few.
“There must be a rule, and the ministry is looking at developing a guideline on how to identify a talented child so that parents don’t say we are blocking their children’s chances.
“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.
Speaking on International Literacy Day, Sununu underscored the critical role of literacy in fostering mutual understanding, peace, and socio-economic development.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing literacy challenges through the Education for Renewed Hope roadmap (2024-2027).
He highlighted youth and adult literacy as key components while emphasizing the importance of using learners’ mother tongues as a medium of instruction.
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