Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has asked tertiary institutions in the country to admit candidates from the age of 16 years from the 2024 academic session.
Mamman gave the directive few hours after he had directed that candidates seeking admission into Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education must now be 18 and above.
The minister spoke on Thursday at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) 2024 policy meeting.
He, however, received a resounding disapproval from the crowd of education stakeholders consisting of heads of tertiary institutions, registrars, and their admission officers.
Responding to their pleas, the minister stressed that the law required that children should be in tertiary institutions at 18 years, having attended six years in primary school, three years in junior secondary school, and three years in senior secondary school.
Mamman then accepted the suggestions of the stakeholders that candidates from 16 years and above should be eligible for this year’s admission.
He, however, added that the new policy will apply from next year.
Corroborating Mamman’s pronouncement, the exam body took to X to announce that candidates from 16 years and above will be considered for this year’s admission.
JAMB added that from 2025, the entry age into tertiary institutions will be 18.
