By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
THE FEDERAL Government has confirmed there is no age restriction for the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams.
Dr. Tanko Sununu, Minister of State for Education, made this clear during a briefing in Abuja on Friday.
The briefing highlighted activities for the 2024 World Literacy Day, which focuses on “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace.”
Dr. Sununu emphasized that the age restriction applies only to the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and university entry, starting in 2025.
This rule does not affect NECO and WAEC candidates.
He stated, “The confusion arose from misinterpretations of earlier statements. Neither I nor Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman mentioned an age limit for WAEC or NECO.”
He further clarified that age restrictions pertain solely to university entry through UTME, aligning with the National Policy on Education.
The policy mandates that students start primary school at six, complete six years there, followed by three years each in junior and senior secondary schools, totaling 18 years.
This aligns with the goal of World Literacy Day (WLD).
Dr. Sununu also discussed the policy’s support for multilingual education, advocating for early instruction in a child’s native language before transitioning to English.
This approach, he explained, enhances learning effectiveness.
Earlier, Prof. Tahir Mamman had suggested on Channels TV that NECO and WAEC should not register candidates under 18, leading to backlash from parents and potential legal threats against the government.
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