The Nigerian government found itself caught in a storm of controversy following a statement made by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, concerning age restrictions for students sitting the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). What started as an attempt to streamline educational standards quickly snowballed into public outrage, prompting the government to backtrack on its earlier position.
It all began when Mamman, during a television interview, announced that students below a certain age—specifically those younger than 18—would no longer be permitted to take crucial secondary school exit exams like WAEC and NECO. He argued that the 6:3:3:4 system of education, which mandates specific years in primary, junior, and senior secondary school, should culminate in students reaching at least 17 and a half years before they take the exams. According to him, this alignment was necessary to ensure that students followed the education system as designed.
However, this seemingly well-intentioned move immediately triggered a wave of backlash. Parents, educators, and even policymakers expressed discontent, accusing the government of imposing arbitrary restrictions on students’ academic progress. For many, the suggestion that underage students would be barred from taking SSCE exams felt like a blanket punishment that did not account for exceptional cases of gifted students or even for regional disparities in access to quality education.
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Social media was ablaze with criticism. Parents of young, high-achieving students voiced their frustrations, worried that their children’s academic trajectories would be stunted. Educators also chimed in, pointing out that age was never a valid metric for gauging academic preparedness. Some critics went so far as to call the policy regressive, arguing that it would harm students more than help them.
In the midst of mounting opposition, many questioned how practical such a rule could be, especially, given a horde of challenges that Nigeria’s education sector is mired in. Nigeria’s education system is already plagued with challenges, including inconsistent access to quality education, overcrowded classrooms, and underfunded schools.
The Government’s U-Turn
Faced with widespread condemnation, the government was forced to take a step back. In a sharp reversal, the Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, addressed the growing concerns and clarified the government’s stance. He assured the public that no official age restriction had been placed on students taking the SSCE, directly contradicting the earlier comments made by Mamman.
Speaking at an event for International Literacy Day in Abuja, Sununu said that the earlier statement had been misinterpreted.
“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 declared.
He further explained that Mamman’s comments were meant to address the entry age for university admissions, not secondary school exit exams. The 18-year age limit, he clarified, referred to when students should be entering tertiary institutions, not when they should be taking their SSCE.
Despite the government’s reversal, the controversy left many wondering how such a drastic statement could have been made without considering the repercussions.
In an effort to calm the situation, Sununu also revealed that the Ministry of Education was working on creating a guideline to identify and accommodate exceptionally talented children who might be ready for university before the age of 18. This was an acknowledgment of the public’s concern that gifted students could be unfairly blocked from advancing due to rigid policies.
Sununu highlighted that while exceptions could be made for students with extraordinary intellectual capabilities, such cases would be rare and handled on a case-by-case basis.
“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 totally wrong.
“We are not saying there are no exceptions,” he noted, “but there must be a rule.”
Although the government’s reversal was quick, the entire episode has raised deeper questions about the state of Nigeria’s education policy. The backlash itself illustrated just how sensitive the topic of education is in a country where millions of young people are eager to excel but are often held back by systemic challenges. The hasty retraction of the age limit also signaled that education policies in Nigeria are still subject to public sentiment, especially when they appear not aligned with global best practices.