Ajadi appeals to FG: Rethink 18-year minimum age requirement for WASSCE

By Michael Adeshina

Olufemi Ajadi, a Chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has issued a clarion call to the Federal Government to undertake a comprehensive review of its recently announced policy, which stipulates that candidates must attain the minimum age of 18 years to participate in the West Africa School Certificate Examinations (WASCE).

The NNPP chieftain made the call after Professor Tahir Mamman, the Honourable Minister of Education, recently unveiled this policy which is slated to take effect from 2025.

Ajadi, via a statement sent to PM News on Sunday, posited that this policy may have far-reaching consequences, potentially delaying the academic progress of millions of students who are already enrolled in Senior Secondary School (SSS1 and SSS2) and are poised to advance to SSS3 at ages below 18 years.

He further expressed his astonishment at the sudden alteration of the age requirement for participating in the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Tertiary Entrance Examination, which was previously set at 16 years.

Ajadi concurs with numerous stakeholders in the education sector who view this decision as a regressive step that fails to consider the realities of modern education. He opines that “The new age limit, rather than enhancing educational outcomes, risks stifling student progress and diminishing the quality of education in Nigeria.”

Ajadi, however, advocates for the maintenance of the minimum age for SSCE at 16 years, citing this as a more balanced and sustainable approach.

In his opinion, “this allows academically-ready students to progress to tertiary education without delay, while ensuring that those who need more time can take their steps gradually.”

Ajadi further argues that “Setting the minimum age for SSCE at 18 years is out of step with the global trend towards encouraging early academic achievements.”

He emphasizes that Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 educational system, which anticipates students completing secondary school by age 18, does not account for the diverse academic paths students may pursue.

Ajadi also notes that “many students, particularly those who are gifted or started school early, complete secondary education well before turning 18.” He cautions that imposing an age limit would unfairly penalize these students, forcing them to wait unnecessarily, resulting in a waste of time and an impediment to their academic and professional growth.

Ajadi also stressed that policy changes should not be hastily implemented, especially in the realm of education, which is a concurrent responsibility of both the federal and state governments.

He queries, “Why must we peg the age at 18 years while other countries write at a lower age?”