The Federal Ministry of Education has debunked claims that students below 18 years old are barred from writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.
The clarification was made by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, during an event to commemorate the 2024 International Literacy Day in Abuja on Friday.
Speaking with journalists, Sununu expressed disappointment over the public misinterpretation of comments made by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, regarding age restrictions in education.
“It is highly disappointing that what was said by the Honourable Minister has been misconstrued,” Sununu said.
“The Minister was actually addressing the issue of an entry age requirement of 18 for tertiary institutions, as was practiced in the 6:3:3:4 system of education, not exams like WAEC or NECO.”
The Minister explained that the statement had been misrepresented, with some believing that children under 18 would no longer be allowed to sit for secondary school exams.
He clarified that the Ministry is only concerned about universities admitting children as young as 10, 11, or 12 years old, which he described as “totally wrong.”
“We are not saying there are no exceptions. There are brilliant students with the IQ of an adult even at the age of 6 or 7, but they are very few.
There must be a rule, and we are working on developing guidelines to identify truly talented children,” Sununu explained. “But at no point did we say students must be 18 to sit for WAEC or NECO. That is a misconception.”
Addressing Literacy Challenges
On the subject of International Literacy Day, Sununu emphasized the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling literacy challenges through its “Education for Renewed Hope” roadmap (2024-2027).
He highlighted the importance of youth and adult literacy, while stressing the need for education to be delivered in learners’ mother tongues.
“We must focus on the role of a learner’s first language in becoming literate, which will foster mutual understanding and peace,” the Minister said, adding that well-trained educators must be equipped to teach in local languages, with supporting reading materials available in these languages.
Multilingual Education as a Tool for Peace
Prof. Simon Akpama, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education (NMEC), also underscored the significance of multilingual education in fostering peace and cultural respect.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to integrating multilingual education into schools’ literacy programmes.
“In an increasingly interconnected world, multilingual education is not just a necessity, it is a tool for fostering peace and cultural respect,” Akpama said.
Meanwhile, UNESCO’s Country Representative, Mr. Diallo Abdourahamane, emphasized that literacy remains a fundamental human right and is key to creating a just, peaceful, and sustainable society.
The 2024 International Literacy Day was themed “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace,” aimed at highlighting the importance of literacy to individuals, communities, and societies.
