The Nigerian Government’s recent decision to enforce a minimum age requirement of 18 for candidates sitting the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) has sparked significant debate among education stakeholders and parents.
According to the new policy, effective from 2025, students below 18 will not be eligible to sit for the SSSCE, and without passing this exam, they cannot gain admission to higher education institutions.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education Mark Useni, addressed concerns about the policy in an interview on Thursday. Useni explained that the decision was discussed in a meeting between the House committees and the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, along with other education officials.
The policy, Useni noted, is rooted in the historical 6-3-3-4 education system and the Universal Basic Education Act. Prof. Mamman also pointed out that similar age restrictions exist in military and paramilitary institutions and that the voting age in Nigeria is also set at 18.
Useni criticized the practice of allowing very young students, some as young as 12, to seek university admission, arguing that the policy aims to align educational pursuits with cognitive and physical maturity. However, he stressed the need for a well-structured implementation plan to prevent disruptions for students already in the senior secondary classes.
The House of Representatives has tasked the Ministry of Education with developing a comprehensive framework to transition into this policy smoothly, ensuring that it does not negatively impact current students or public interests.
