The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, has issued a directive to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and all Nigerian tertiary institutions to admit only candidates who have attained the age of 18 years and above.
The minister’s directive was given at the ongoing 2024 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions in Abuja on Thursday, a forum that brings together critical stakeholders in the admission processes into tertiary institutions in the country.
“JAMB is hereby instructed from admission this year to admit only eligible students. That is those who have attained 18 years by our laws,” the minister said.
The directive was met with some resistance from the audience, but the minister stood his ground, insisting that his position was backed by the law.
“Our laws require students to be in school from six years —Yes, there are those who do that from five—, and remain in primary school for six years, basic education for three years, and secondary school for three years… It doesn’t require a statement of the minister… we are only restating what is in the law,” he added.
Education Stakeholders Reject FG’s New 18-year Admission Age Limit
There was a rowdy session at the 2024 Joint Admissions Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) policy meeting on education in Abuja as stakeholders vehemently opposed the new minimum admission age of 18 years announced by the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman.
The minister’s declaration was met with instant resistance from the packed hall of stakeholders representing tertiary institutions nationwide, forcing him to pause his address.
The session turned rowdy, with the minister asking, “Are we together?” only to be met with a resounding “No!” from the crowd.
Undisturbed, the minister continued his explanation for the new benchmark, but the uproar persisted.
It took the intervention of JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, to restore order with his plea, “Please attention please!”
The annual policy meeting is held to authorise the commencement of admission into tertiary institutions in the country and adopt certain admission benchmarks.
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