The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has called on the Federal Government to suspend the recent policy set by the Ministry of Education, which requires students to be at least 18 years old to enroll in senior secondary school examinations.
The association criticized the policy, calling it restrictive and outdated, arguing that it could unfairly disadvantage students and their parents. During a press briefing following a meeting of the association’s principal officers in Abuja, SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim urged the government to reconsider the decision and engage in further consultations to prevent potential disruption in the education sector.
This opposition from SSANU aligns with concerns raised by other stakeholders since the policy was announced by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, last week.
Prof. Mamman, during an appearance on Channels Television’s “Sunday Politics,” stated that individuals under the age of 18 would no longer be permitted to take part in National Examinations Council (NECO) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams. The Federal Government has directed both examination bodies to enforce this new age requirement.