Reps Members Take Final Decision on Ban on Under-18 Students Taking SSCE, UTME

The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education has hinted that the recent decision of the Federal Government to restrict candidates below the age of 18 years from taking the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, SSSCE, may stand. In July 2023, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, introduced a new policy stating that, effective from 2025, candidates below the age of 18 would no longer be eligible to write SSSCE, one of the most essential requirements for entry into universities and other tertiary institutions.

This has elicited mixed arguments among parents, experts in education, and other stakeholders in the education sector. Some say that age must not be an objecting factor to stream students for such exams, while others believe the policy could work well to improve standards of education whereby all students are mentally and emotionally ready for higher education.

However, on Thursday, September 4, 2024, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education Mark Useni gave further clarity as to why the government was unlikely to reverse the decision. Useni said the policy had its foundation in Nigeria’s existing education framework and didn’t constitute an arbitrary rule but had been part of long-term planning within the country’s education sector.

Useni said, “The Committees on Basic Education and Examination Boards took the matter to the leadership of the House of Representatives. The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, promptly appointed the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, to moderate a meeting between the two committees and the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.”

Speaking at the meeting, Mamman explained that the basis for the decision was not an entirely new one. The policy is based on a guideline formulated before the adoption of the 6-3-3-4 that models basic, secondary, and higher education in Nigeria. Mamman further noted that the age policy also tallies with what obtains in the Universal Basic Education Act, which makes it mandatory for children to have at least nine years of schooling before being qualified to enter into higher levels.

He explained that allowing schoolchildren to take university entrance exams might harm their development in every respect. The Minister said students below the age of 18 may not possess the required maturity in tackling challenges at tertiary education level, which includes living away from home and handling academic and personal responsibilities. He added that it might also boost students’ performance and grades in school since they have been sufficiently assured to be academically and emotionally prepared to face the challenges inherent in higher learning.

Yet others say the policy will have unintended, and unfair, consequences for some students who are younger than 18 but advanced academically. Critics also fret that the policy could make higher education less accessible for many students who come from families who cannot afford to pursue the traditional educational path.

In response to these issues, Useni said the government was open to constructive criticism; however, he insisted that the policy on age limit was unlikely to be overturned. The committee felt that this policy would ensure a better and more organized route for students to adequately prepare for the academic as well as social challenges at tertiary levels of education.

It is against this background that the decision of the Federal Government to enforce a minimum age of 18 years to take the SSSCE and gain admission into higher institutions starts in 2025. Even though the policy has generated some argument, this is part of a broader effort at regularizing educational progress in Nigeria, as well as ensuring that students would be better prepared for the challenges of university life. The government’s commitment to quality education and providing a balanced environment that fosters academic and personal growth is unparalleled.