The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, mentioned on Monday, 22nd April 2024, that the Federal Government is contemplating setting 18 years as the minimum age for university and tertiary institution admission, citing concerns about problems caused by underage students in higher education.
Mamman, while observing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in Abuja, cautioned parents against pressuring their children too much, emphasizing the importance of allowing them to mature before entering university.
He said;
The other thing which we notice is the age of those who have applied to go to the university. Some of them are too young. We are going to look at it because they are too young to understand what a university education is all about.
That’s the stage when students migrate from a controlled environment where they are in charge of their affairs. So if they are too young, they won’t be able to manage properly. That accounts for some of the problems we are seeing in the universities.
We are going to look at that. 18 is the entry age for university but you will see students, 15, and 16, going to the examination. It is not good for us. Parents should be encouraged not to push their wards, or children too much.
Tahir Mamman – Minister of Education
He commended the use of technology in reducing exam malpractice and highlighted the need for skills acquisition to prepare youths for alternative pathways beyond tertiary education.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, praised the objectivity and reliability of the examination process, noting its expansion to other countries like Saudi Arabia.
The current standard admission age in most tertiary institutions is 16 years, but there have been discussions about amending the law to raise the age limit for UTME candidates to 16 years and above to prevent under-aged participation.
Story: Christy Dung