Underage Candidates Barred from Writing NECO, WAEC Exams – Minister

The Federal Government has announced that underage candidates will no longer be allowed to sit for secondary school leaving examinations, including NECO and WAEC.

Education Minister Tahir Mamman made this known on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, stating that the government has instructed WAEC and NECO to comply with the directive on the 18-year age limit for candidates to be eligible for the examinations.

Mamman emphasized that the age limit for university admission in Nigeria remains 18 years.

Mamman explained that the policy is not new, but rather a reminder of existing regulations. He broke down the expected number of years pupils should spend in school, from early child care to senior secondary school, totaling 17 and a half years.

The minister also addressed the issue of exceptionally talented children, stating that their cases would be given special consideration. However, he noted that in Nigeria, it is easy to abuse special windows.