The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that candidates below the age of 16 may be considered for admission into tertiary institutions if they demonstrate exceptional academic ability.
According to reports, these candidates must score at least 80% in the Unified Tertiary, Matriculation Examination (UTME), which equates to a minimum of 320 marks out of 400.
This decision follows the recent reversal of the mandatory 18-year admission age requirement introduced by former Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman. The current Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, has reinstated the previous benchmark of 16 years, a move widely welcomed by education stakeholders.
At a meeting with key stakeholders, including Chief External Examiners, Chief Technical Advisors, and members of the Equal Opportunity Group, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede reaffirmed that while 16 remains the standard minimum age, exceptional candidates under 16 may be admitted under strict conditions.
Special Consideration for Gifted Candidates
A transcript from the meeting published in JAMB’s bulletin quoted Oloyede as saying:
“Age plays a crucial role in maturity and academic development. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be age limits for leadership positions such as local government chairman. Biological age is linked to intellectual growth, and while rules exist, there must be room for exceptions.”
He clarified that while the minimum age for admission is 16, gifted students should not be overlooked. These individuals must demonstrate outstanding academic ability across multiple assessments, including UTME, WASSCE, Post-UTME, and GCE O/Level.
“If a candidate under 16 scores 200 out of 400 in UTME, can they truly be considered exceptional? However, if they achieve 80% (320/400), that signals outstanding ability and warrants consideration,” Oloyede added.
Concerns Over Private Universities and Age Manipulation
Oloyede also raised concerns about private universities admitting underage students, noting that many struggle academically, with up to 80% eventually being transferred to other programs due to poor performance.
He further condemned the practice of parents falsifying birth records to secure early admission for their children, only to later attempt to alter their ages to meet the eligibility criteria for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program.
To address these concerns, JAMB has introduced a mock UTME for underage candidates.
Speaking recently in Lagos, Oloyede clarified that the mock exam is not for admission purposes but rather to help younger candidates assess their academic preparedness before attempting the UTME.
“We are starting the sale of forms on the 31st of January till 5th of March. There will be a mock exam on the 23rd of February and on the 8th of March there will be UTME,” the JAMB Registrar said.
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