The Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, has addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the age limit for students sitting for West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.
Sununu emphasised that neither he nor his colleagues, Prof. Tahir Mamman and the Minister of State, ever mentioned an age restriction for taking these exams.
“As regards this matter, we have made ourselves clear in different fora. But the issue kept recurring here and there. Nobody among the two of us, stated anything about the age limit for WAEC, NECO or NABTEB.
The minister attributed the misunderstanding to misinterpreted remarks made by him in the past, which were taken out of context to imply an age limit for WAEC and NECO exams.
“People just picked up some remarks the Minister made and misinterpreted the statements to imply that age restriction has been placed for WAEC and NECO examinations.
He clarified that the discussion was centred on the entry age for university candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
“What we have been mentioning in the past was the entry age for University, candidates sitting for the UTME. We have made this clear several times, and this is in line with the National Policy on Education.
Sununu referenced the National Policy on Education, which outlines the expected educational journey of a child.
According to the policy, a child should enter primary school at six years old, spend six years there, followed by three years each in junior and senior secondary schools, culminating in a total of 18 years.
This policy is aligned with the theme of this year's World Literacy Day.
Recall that Niger Delta Connect had earlier reported that the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, declared that the minimum age for writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examination Council (NECO) exams would be 18, citing existing policy.
The minister also highlighted the importance of language in learning, citing the policy's recommendation that children learn in their mother tongue or immediate environment language until primary three, before introducing the English language in subsequent years.
He said the approach facilitates learning and communication at the primary level.
