NAN reports that the minister spoke at the ministerial session of the 68th National Council on Education (NCE) meeting in Abuja.
The 68th meeting is themed “Innovation, Digital Technology, and Entrepreneurship: Tools for Education and National Development”.
In July, the education ministry introduced a policy adopting 18 as the minimum age for tertiary institution admissions.
It said the policy, which is to take effect in 2025, will ensure candidates are mature enough to deal with the rigours of tertiary education.
It further said candidates who do not spend the required years in primary and secondary school would not be allowed to write the SSCE.
The age policy has been critiqued, with stakeholders concerned that exceptional students could be unduly shut out of tertiary education.
He said the ministry is working to establish guidelines that would guarantee admission for exceptional students who may be under 18.
“The ministry is simply emphasising the age requirement for entry into tertiary institutions as outlined in the National Policy on Education, the UBEC Act, and the Education (Minimum) Standards Act 1993,” Mamman added.
“It is not about the age for participating in WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, or any ordinary level examinations.”
Nigeria operates the 6–3–3–4 system where a child enrols in school at age six for six years each of primary and secondary education.
At the end of secondary school, a Nigerian is expected to be aged 18 but many students often graduate at 16 or less due to skipped grades.
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