Why Students Below 18 Can’t Write JAMB From 2025-Education Minister

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, recently announced a big change, starting in 2025, students under 18 years old won’t be allowed to take the JAMB exam anymore. 

He talked about this during a TV interview on Channels TV. This new rule is part of a plan to make sure students are really ready for university and have finished the right amount of schooling first. 

This year, however, the government will still allow candidates under 18 to take the exam. This decision serves as advance notice to parents about the enforcement of the age requirement starting next year.

Prof. Mamman clarified, “Nothing has changed. It is still 18 years old. What we did at the JAMB meeting was to allow this year to serve as a kind of notice that from next year, JAMB will insist that anyone applying to university in Nigeria meets the required age of 18.”

The policy is not a new one, it reaffirms an existing one that expects students to complete about 17 and a half years of schooling from daycare through primary and secondary education before becoming eligible for university admission. This calculation ensures that students reach the age of 18 by the time they are ready for university, aligning their academic readiness with their age.

Furthermore, the minister stated that this requirement would extend to other critical examinations like the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the West African Examination Council (WAEC). 

Candidates who have not completed the necessary years in school will not be eligible to participate in these exams either. “It’s not a matter of age. It’s a matter of the years spent at each level of education,” he added.

Special Considerations for Exceptional Students

Regarding exceptionally bright students who might be ready for higher education earlier, Prof. Mamman acknowledged the possibility of creating opportunities for such gifted individuals. 

He noted that while other countries offer provisions for academically advanced children, any policy adjustments in Nigeria would need to carefully consider the potential for widespread abuse among the general student population seeking university admission.