In an effort to curb underage admissions into tertiary institutions in Nigeria, the federal government, through the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, directed on April 22 that admission to tertiary institutions should not be granted to candidates under the age of 18. This decision was also supported by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Mamman criticized parents who pressure their underage children to seek admission into tertiary institutions, stating that the 18-year benchmark aligns with Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education system.
The 6-3-3-4 education system is structured into four main stages: six years of primary education, three years of junior secondary education, three years of senior secondary education, and a minimum of four years of tertiary education.
According to Mamman, candidates who are too young and are forced into university education may struggle to understand the demands and responsibilities involved.
“The minimum age of entry into the university is 18, but we have seen students who are 15 or 16 years old taking the entrance examination. Parents should be encouraged not to push their wards too much. Mostly, it is the pressure from parents that is causing this.
“We are going to look into this because these candidates are too young to fully grasp what university education entails. This is a period when children move from controlled environments to ones where they are in charge of their own affairs.
“If they are too young, they won’t be able to manage properly. I think that is part of the problem we are seeing in universities today,” he said.
However, Michael Adenola, an activist and social commentator, criticized the minister’s decision. Adenola argued that setting the minimum age requirement for candidates at 18 deepens the socio-economic divide in society.
Adenola noted that imposing this age restriction will prevent many young people, through no fault of their own, from meeting the age requirement.
He emphasized that instead of addressing critical issues that need reform within the education sector, JAMB has chosen to implement policies that serve the interests of a privileged few, further marginalizing vulnerable groups.
“This decision disproportionately affects students from disadvantaged backgrounds, exacerbating the systemic inequalities that have long plagued our educational system. Rather than addressing pressing issues within the sector, JAMB has focused on policies that serve the interests of a privileged few, further marginalizing already vulnerable groups.
“At a time when inclusivity and access to education should be prioritized, this move represents a misstep that underscores the failure of our institutions to address the real challenges faced by the masses,” he said.
Many Factors Contributing to Underage Education
Gideon Adeyeni, Programme Officer at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), said that for the policy to work effectively, enforcement must begin at the point of entry into the formal schooling system.
He emphasized that over the years, private tertiary institutions, driven largely by profit, have admitted “children who should still be breastfeeding,” adding that these institutions should come under the scrutiny of relevant agencies.
Adeyeni noted that harsh economic realities and precarious work conditions have contributed to the increase of underage students in higher institutions.
“Our analysis will be incomplete if we forget that many push toddlers to school because of harsh economic realities and precarious work conditions that leave too many people with little or no time for child care. Ultimately, we must ensure that people earn well, work fewer hours, have necessary leaves, and work in environments that support child care, among other things, to ensure that children are not pushed to school too early and are not negatively impacted psychologically.
“I think it is correct to ensure that young people attain a stage of mental development before they are subjected to the rigors of formal education, even at the lowest level. This is common practice in many parts of the world. One of the countries that comes to mind when discussing this subject is Finland, where children typically start school at age 7, and the country’s education system is highly regarded,” he said.
Adeyeni, who supports the policy, noted that “it is correct to ensure that young people attain a stage of mental development before they are subjected to the rigors of formal education, even at the lowest level. This is common practice in many parts of the world. One of the countries that comes to mind when talking about this subject is Finland, where children typically start school at age 7, and the country’s education system is highly regarded,” he said.
According to him, the directive from the FG has left certain questions unanswered, and enforcing it in a hasty manner may not be feasible.
“So, in a sense, this can be said to be rightly intended. But the question that arises now is, ‘What happens to those who are already in primary and secondary schools and are likely to finish secondary school at 15, 16, or 17? Will they have to wait for 3, 2, or 1 year before going to university? How will they be engaged during this period?” he asked.