Candidates under 18 years won’t be allowed to write WAEC, NECO

Nigeria's Education Minister says students under 18 can no longer take the secondary school leaving exam. He announced the decision on Channels TV's Sunday Politics program. Mamman said the government has told the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to follow the rule. Candidates must be at least 18 to take the WASSCE and SSCE. The minister also said students must be at least 18 to take the UTME. "It's 18." At the meeting with JAMB in July, we decided to admit students under 18 this year. Next year, JAMB will insist that students applying to universities in Nigeria meet the required age. He said this isn't a new policy, just a reminder of existing rules. "If you add up all the years kids are supposed to be in school, it comes to 17 and a half." "By the time they're ready for school, they'll be 17 and a half," he said. We're not making a new policy. We're just reminding people of what already exists. "Starting now, NECO and WAEC will only let kids take exams once they are old enough. If you have yet to spend the required time at that level, WAEC and NECO won't let you take the exam.