The Principal Special Assistant to the Governor of Benue State on Youth and Students Affairs, Hon Comrade Nevkaa Jacob Ter-nenge has thrown his weight behind the Federal Government policy of barring underage candidates from sitting for West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, comments when he appeared on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ programme on Sunday night, have since generated a lot of debate and controversy.
According to Mamman, he has instructed WAEC which administers the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), and NECO which organises the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) to comply with the directive on 18 years age limit for any candidate to be eligible for the two examinations.
Ter-nenge, while lending his voice to the policy of the Federal Government in a statement described the Minister’s idea as a way of strengthening the standard, increasing capacity building and productivity in the country’s educational system.
“In aligning with this policy, the youth and students leader also advocated for compulsory acquisition of entrepreneural skills by secondary school students before leaving college,” he said.
According to him, it was imperative to equip the students with skills that would foster self-reliance, thereby reducing their dependence on both government support and parental assistance upon gaining admission into institutions of higher education.
He emphasized that attention be given to introductory technology and fundamental computer skills during basic 7 to 9, with certification being a mandatory requirement for entry into basic 10.
Ter-nenge said already, the Federal Government had directed the two examination bodies to ensure that candidates below the age of 18 do not write the examinations.
“Similarly, Mamman also emphasized that the age limit for any candidate to write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) remained 18 years.
“He explained that for this year, (2024) the JAMB would allow candidates below 18 years to write its exams but would bar them from taking the exams next year.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a new policy; this is a policy that has been there for a long time.
“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.
“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,” Ter-nenge stated.
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