NANS knocks FG over ban on admissions for under 18
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected the federal government’s move to ban admission for candidates under the age of 18 into tertiary institutions in the country. Speaking on Thursday during the 2024 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said: “JAMB is hereby […]
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected the federal government’s move to ban admission for candidates under the age of 18 into tertiary institutions in the country.
Speaking on Thursday during the 2024 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said: “JAMB is hereby notified that there is now a ban on underaged students, those under the age of 18 into our tertiary institutions from this 2024 admissions.”
The minister said the government was considering the adoption of 18 years as the entry age for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions of learning.
But in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday in Abuja, the President of NANS, Pedro Obi, condemned the ban.
He said: “This blanket ban is totally unacceptable to the students’ bodies, declaring such far reaching decision without even a robust stakeholders’ engagement and legislative support undermines democratic process and inclusivity in policy making”
“The blanket age restriction disregards individual differences in intellectual and academic capabilities, unfairly penalizing students who are advanced for their age. Students should be allowed to move at their own pace and maintain their performances.
“NANS is saying no to the plans by the federal government to peg the minimum age for admission of students into higher institutions at 18. it is unfriendly, unjust and not equitable”
Obi, therefore, called on the federal government to reconsider its stance and allow the national assembly to provide legislation backing before arriving at a requirement.