The Federal Government has directed that admission to tertiary institutions should not be granted to candidates under 18 years old.
Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, announced this directive on Thursday at the 2024 Policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja.
The announcement elicited mixed reactions from vice-chancellors, rectors, and registrars present at the meeting. The minister criticized the actions of some parents who pressure their underage wards to gain admission into tertiary institutions.
Mamman stated that the 18-year benchmark aligns with the 6-3-3-4 system of education. He added that for those who are unable to gain admission into tertiary institutions, the Ministry of Education is focusing on imparting skills to pupils from primary school.