The Federal Government has denied claims about age restrictions for taking the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams. Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, clarified in Abuja that there are no age limits for participating in these exams.
He explained that the only age limit imposed is for the UTME and university entry, set at 18 years starting in 2025.
According to the National Policy on Education, a child typically starts primary school at six years, spends six years there, followed by three years each in junior and senior secondary schools, totaling 18 years.
The Minister’s clarification came during a briefing on activities to mark the 2024 World Literacy Day, themed “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace.”
Sununu stated; “As regards this matter, we have made ourselves clear in different fora. But the issue kept recurring here and there. Actually, nobody among the two of us, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, nor the Minister of State, stated anything about the age limit for WAEC, NECO or NABTEB.
“People just pick up some remarks the Minister made, misinterpreted the statements to imply that age restriction has been placed for WAEC and NECO examinations.
“What we have been mentioning in the past was the entry age for University, candidates sitting for the UTME. We have made this clear several times, and this is in line with the National Policy on Education.
“The document stated that a child is expected to enter Primary School at six years, and he’s expected to spend six years in that school making it 12 years, three years each in junior and senior secondary schools, making it 18 years. That’s what is contained in the National Policy on Education document.
“This is directly or otherwise related to the theme of this year’s World Literacy Day. The Policy further stated that a child should learn in the language of the immediate environment or mother tongue up till primary three before English language could be introduced in subsequent years. That has facilitated learning at that level because you can easily communicate.”
