WASSCE: ASUU and NUT Differ as FG Bans Under-18 Candidates

The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has criticized the Federal Government's recent decision to ban under-18 candidates from sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO) exams. However, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has shown support for the policy. The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced on a television program that the government has enforced a minimum age of 18 for students taking secondary school leaving exams like WASSCE and NECO, as well as the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). According to Mamman, this age requirement has been part of existing policy, though it has not been strictly enforced until now. The policy is intended to ensure that students have spent the requisite years in school before advancing to tertiary education.

The NUT, represented by its Secretary-General, Dr. Mike Ene, argued that the policy is unrealistic, considering societal changes that have led to early enrollment in educational institutions due to economic pressures. Ene expressed concerns about the policy's impact on exceptional students and warned that it could lead to legal challenges. He suggested that the policy should start from the primary school level to be effective. On the other hand, ASUU, represented by its National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, supported the policy, emphasizing the importance of following standard academic progression, where students complete their education in line with age-appropriate milestones. Osodeke questioned the rush to enter university at a young age and stressed the need for students to mature before advancing to higher education.

Other stakeholders, including the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, have also weighed in on the issue. ASUP criticized the policy, pointing out inconsistencies in the government's priorities, such as allowing child marriages in the North while restricting younger students from taking exams. The Vice-Chancellors are expected to meet in September to discuss the policy further. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has stated that they do not regulate candidates' ages, as these details are provided by schools. However, they acknowledged that the government has the authority to enforce educational policies.