Education Minister changes minimum admission age to 16 years, sets 140 as minimum tolerance score into Nigeria universities; 100 for polytechnics, collages of education

Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education, has changed the minimum age for admissions into Tertiary Institutions for 2024 from 18 to 16 years. This follows the backlash from stakeholders at the just concluded Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) policy meeting Thursday in Abuja.

Stakeholders argued that 18 years as the minimum age is too high, and the decision comes at the wrong time, given that candidates below 18 have already written the exams.

Stakeholders including Vice Chancellors and Rectors also kicked against the age enforcement, saying the decision will force students below 18 years to stay at home for two to three years more, since they were not informed earlier of their ineligibility.

Responding, Mamman said the points raised are valid and thereby, the minimum age be reduced from 18 to 16.

He said the concession is just for the 2024 admissions and subsequently years 18 years will be the minimum age.

Following, as recommended by stakeholders, JAMB sets minimum tolerance score for admissions into Universities at 140 and minimum score into Polytechnics and Colleges of Education at 100

Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB’s Registrar noted that the scores are minimum tolerance and not cut-off marks, to avoid misunderstanding among candidates

Recall the minister of education had in April said that the federal government would look into adopting 18 years as the minimum age for entry into tertiary institutions in the country.

Tahir Mamman, the minister of education had reinstated the ministry’s position on banning candidates under the age of 18 from seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

“JAMB is hereby notified that there is now a ban on underaged students, those under the age of 18 into our tertiary institutions from this 2024 admissions,” he said.

The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tetfund had also on April 23 said it would back the decision of the federal government to adopt 18 years as age limit for enrollment in tertiary institutions.

According to the FRCN report, “Muntari Dandutse, the committee chairman made this known when he led other members and the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, to monitor the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME in Abuja.”

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman has vowed to enforce a law mandating the admission age for entry into tertiary institutions as 18 years.

Mamman was speaking at the 2024 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions, organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, in Abuja on Thursday.

The meeting was put in place to determine the modality and guidelines for admissions into tertiary institutions for the 2024 academic session.

“Information has revealed that the enrolment of underage candidates is inflicting serious damage on the university and the education system, hence, the need for enforcement of extant rules.

“When I was monitoring the just concluded 2024 UTME, I was alarmed at the participation of a large number of obviously under-age candidates in the examination.

“This necessitated my comment on the need to enforce the extant provisions of the educational policies which made provision for nine years of basic education and three years of Senior Secondary Education before entry into tertiary institution.

“It is clear that a child who, as expected is enrolled in basic school at the age of six and having undergone 12 years of education would be around 18 years old when being enrolled in a tertiary institution,” he said.

He bemoaned the surge in applications for immediate requests for a change of age to reflect higher age in anticipation of the imminent enforcement of the age policy.

“This again reflects dangerous games being played with the life and future of innocent children by those expected to nurture them.

“Flowing from this, JAMB is hereby instructed to admit only eligible students’ i.e. those who have attained 18 years.

“Universities are advised to avoid recommending unqualified children for admission,” he added.