The Federal Government has announced that candidates under 18 years old will no longer be allowed to take secondary school leaving examinations administered by WAEC and NECO. Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman made this declaration on Channels Television’s “Sunday Politics” program.
Mamman emphasized that both WAEC and NECO must enforce an 18-year age limit for candidates taking the WASSCE and SSCE exams. He clarified that this is not a new policy but a reinforcement of existing regulations.
The minister explained that the age limit is calculated based on the number of years students spend in school, from early child care to senior secondary school, which totals 17 and a half years. He stated that WAEC and NECO will no longer allow underage children to write their examinations, and the age limit for UTME candidates remains 18 years.
This decision aims to ensure that students meet the required age and educational requirements before taking critical exams.
