Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman has directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to admit only eligible candidates, who are 18 years and above.
Mamman made this known on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at the 2024 Policy Meeting and 4th Edition of NATAP-M Awards held in Abuja.
The Minister stated that what he observed while monitoring this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was the prevalence of underage candidates.
He noted that there had been a surge in candidates’ request to change their age since he reiterated his decision to enforce the 18 Years mark. He further stated that age would also be a criteria for mobilisation for the compulsory one year National Youth Service.
He commended the Board for using the National Identification Number (NIN) as prerequisite to writing the examination, adding that it was yielding the desired results by weeding out multiple registrations and ultimately curbing malpractices.
Mamman recalled that over one million people were fraudulently admitted without Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) and warned that any Vice Chancellor giving admission outside CAPS would be sanctioned.
The Minister further disclosed that the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS)
was due for further review. Therefore,
from September, the Ministry would introduce a new National Curriculum for both public and private primary and secondary schools.
He informed that they would hitherto inculcate skills and enterprenurship in a very robust way.
He explained that only 25% of Secondary School Leavers gained admission into Tertiary institutions in the country, therefore, the new curriculum would cater for the remaining 75% and further address the learning crisis plaguing the country’s education sector.
