The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that it has not stopped students under the age of 18 from writing the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, made the clarification in Abuja on Friday, stating that the ministry is working on developing guidelines to identify talented children who may be ready for tertiary education before the age of 18.
The clarification comes after public outcry and misinterpretation of a previous statement made by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, which suggested that students under 18 would be barred from writing the exams.
Dr. Sununu emphasized that the ministry is committed to addressing literacy challenges through the Education for Renewed Hope roadmap (2024-2027), with a focus on youth and adult literacy, and the use of local languages as a medium of instruction.
The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education, Prof. Simon Akpama, reaffirmed the commission’s dedication to integrating multilingual education into schools’ literacy programs.
UNESCO’s Country Representative, Mr. Diallo Abdourahamane, reiterated that literacy remains a fundamental human right, essential for creating a just, peaceful, and sustainable society.
The clarification was made on the eve of International Literacy Day, celebrated annually on September 8, with the theme “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace.”