Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, has revised the age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions to 16 years, following widespread opposition to the initial 18-year benchmark.
During a policy meeting organized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja, Professor Mamman initially announced that only applicants aged 18 and above would be eligible for admission.
Advertorial
This announcement immediately sparked controversy and disapproval from stakeholders across various tertiary institutions.
The meeting descended into chaos shortly after Mamman’s announcement, prompting him to ask, “Are we together?” The attendees responded with a resounding “No!”
The situation was eventually brought under control with the intervention of JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede.
Advertorial
In response to the uproar, Mamman reiterated that the existing law requires children to be in school until 18, having completed six years of primary education, three years of Junior Secondary School, and three years of Senior Secondary School.
He emphasized that the goal of the meeting was to ensure a fair admission process for the 2024/2025 academic year.
Advertorial
Despite his initial stance, Mamman eventually conceded to the suggestions of stakeholders, agreeing that students aged 16 and above would be eligible for admission this year.
He noted that the 18-year requirement would be enforced from the following year.
One participant, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed disbelief at the initial age requirement, questioning how students who had completed their education and passed their exams could be denied admission based on age alone.
Advertorial
The Minister adjusted the admission age to 16 for the current year, while maintaining that the new 18-year age requirement will be implemented from the next academic cycle.
