The National Assembly has announced plans to draft comprehensive legislation in support of setting the entry age limit for admission into tertiary educational institutions at 18 years old.
During the ongoing monitoring of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) in Abuja, Senator Muntari Dandutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, emphasized the importance of the proposed age limit. He stressed that while age should not be a barrier to accessing higher education, the Minister of Education’s recommendation of 18 years as the entry age is crucial.
Joining him on the visit were members of his committee and counterparts from the House of Representatives Committee on Higher Education. Senator Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West, highlighted the existing law mandating admission for candidates who are 18 years old. He emphasized the need to amend and strengthen this law in light of current circumstances.
Karimi emphasized that while age should not hinder access to education, there must be an age limit. He explained that just as there are age requirements for primary and secondary education, the same principle should apply to tertiary education, with 18 years being the minimum age for university entry.
The directive from the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, supports this stance, prohibiting admission into tertiary institutions for candidates under 18 years old. Mamman expressed concern over parents pressuring underage students to seek admission prematurely.
This move aligns with the 6-3-3-4 system of education, ensuring consistency and coherence in educational policies and practices.