18 years Admissions Limit: Government to create guidelines for exceptional students 

The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, says the ministry is working on new guidelines on how to identify exceptionally intelligent or gifted children who are below the age of 18 years so that they can gain admission into Tertiary Institutions in the country.

The Minister stated this at the 68th National Council on Education meeting in Abuja with the theme “Innovation, Digital Technology and Entrepreneurship: Tools for Education and National Development in the 21st Century.”

He said despite the emphasis on the 18-year age limit for admission into Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria, the ministry recognizes that there are some exceptionally intelligent students who could be given admission even if they have not attained the age limit.

“The Ministry acknowledges that some children are exceptionally intelligent and the Ministry will work out a guideline to deal with cases of genuine exceptionally intelligent learners.

“We will work out ways on how to identify them so that they can proceed. It’s a global thing,” he said.

The Minister insisted the ministry is not shifting ground on the 18-year age limit to gain admission to Tertiary Institutions, as it is contained in the Nigerian law and has only been reemphasized in recent times.

He re-echoed that the 18-year age limit does not affect those sitting for WAEC, NECO, and other examinations.

“There is a need to clarify yet again the misrepresentation on the issue of 18 years age limit for admission to universities which was earlier mentioned.

“The Ministry was only drawing attention to the age requirement for entry into tertiary institutions as enshrined in the National Policy on Education (6-3-3-4 System); the UBEC Act and Education (Minimum) Standards Act 1993, and not the age limit for students participating in WAEC, NECO, NBAIS, NABTEB or any Ordinary Level examination,” he said.

It would be recalled that the emphasis on the 18-year age limit for admission to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria caused uproar across the Federation given that many students graduate earlier than the age of admission.

The Minister also reiterated that a new curriculum for Basic and Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria will be rolled out this October.

He explained that the curriculum was designed to incorporate knowledge, skills, and values, especially with a special focus on skills, so that students, when they graduate, will have skills that they can connect with the economy and have a productive life.

“The world we live in and its future is very different from the times of old. Today, we share a common challenge that the country’s educational curriculum is in danger of becoming obsolete as technology is disrupting every industry, including education.

“A well-designed and effective curriculum determines a sustainable development, quality, and the relevance of education.

“This is the main reason why the government places priority on the institutionalization of curriculum development in the overall context of education,” he said.

Digital facilities were launched and distributed to council members of the National Council on Education for them to go paperless and work with speed.

A communique is expected at the end of the council meeting which is the highest decision-making body of the ministry.