More controversy over proposed 18 years varsity admission age

Bola Olajuwon, Bisi Olaniyi, Benin, Simon Utebor, Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki, Damola Kola-Dare, Victoria Amadi, Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan and Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba May 2, 2024

The National Assembly, key unions in universities and some Nigerians have hailed the directive on the proposed 18 years’ age limit policy on entry into tertiary institutions as announced by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman. Many people have also opposed it, claiming that there is no guarantee that the policy would succeed. According to those opposing the directive, parents would devise means to circumvent it, as they are doing with the age policy to enter Federal Government colleges, Bola Olajuwon, Bisi Olaniyi, Simon Utebor, Ogochukwu Anioke, Damola Kola-Dare, Victoria Amadi, Yinka Adeniran and Okungbowa Aiwerie report.

The Federal Government’s directive that candidates less than 18 years old should not be admitted into tertiary institutions has so far elicited mixed reactions from education stakeholders.

Minister of Education Tahir Mamman gave the directive last week during a monitoring of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) at Bwari, the Federal Capital Territory.

He decried the activities of some parents, who were compelling their underage children to get admission into tertiary institutions, explaining that the 18-year benchmark is in line with the 6-3-3-4 system of education.

“The minimum age of entry into the university is 18, but we have seen students who are 15, 16 years going in for the entrance examination. Parents should be encouraged not to push their wards too much. Mostly, it is the pressure of parents that is causing this.

“We are going to look at this development because the candidates are too young to understand what the whole university education is all about,” he said.

Before the minister’s announcement, the Senate last year announced plans to amend the law establishing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to peg age limit for candidates of the UTME at 16 years and above. The Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Basic Education, Akon Eyakenyi, gave the indication during the committee’s oversight visit to JAMB last year.

According to Eyakenyi, this would prevent under-aged candidates from participating in the examination for the purpose of gaining admission into a university in the country.

Before the policy is backed by law, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, at the 2024 Ministerial Briefing, said 16 years remained the admissible age into Lagos State-owned tertiary institutions.

“If your age is below 16, you are not eligible,” he said.

The UK, U.S., Germany example

The typical age range for university admission is between 17 and 19 years old, after completing secondary education or high school.

In the United Kingdom, each university oversees its admissions. Swansea, Southampton, and Cardiff universities admit at age 16. Kent University pegs it at 17 years. The Open University admits at 16 years or lower. Cambridge prescribes 18 years for some courses, including medicine.

In the United States, for example, most students enter university at the age of 18 or 19, after completing high school. In Germany, students typically enter university at the age of 19 or 20 after completing a two-year programme called “Vorkurs” or “Studienkolleg”.

An Education Adviser at the British High Commission in Abuja, Mr. Mikailu Ibrahim, noted that the appropriate age for university entry varies with countries, education system, and type of degree.

“In some cases, students may enter university at a younger age, such as 16 or 17, if they have completed accelerated programmes or have been homeschooled. Additionally, some universities offer early admission programmes or dual-enrolment programmes that allow students to start taking university courses while still in high school.

“Most of the circumstances leading to early entry are not obtainable in Nigeria,” Ibrahim said.

 National Assembly to support new entry limit

The National Assembly has pledged to come up with a robust legislation to support the new age limit.

Chairman, Senate Committee on tertiary institutions and TETFund, Senator Muntari Dandutse, said this while monitoring the 2024 UTME. The Katsina South senator was accompanied by other members of his committee as well as his counterparts from the Committee on Higher Education in the House of Representatives.

Dandutse said though age should not be a barrier to tertiary educational institutions, the age limit of 18 as proposed by the Minister of Education is sacrosanct. His counterpart, Senator Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West, said there had been a law mandating admission to be given to candidates who are 18.

“With what is happening, we are going to amend it and make it robust. Specifically, everybody should have access to education, your age 40 or 50 or 60 years doesn’t mean you cannot enter the university.

“Age should not be a barrier but there is also an age limit and minimum, you cannot be 12, 13, 14 years and enter into the university. Before you can enter primary school, you have to be six years. Before you can enter secondary school, you have to be 12 years. So, before you can enter the university, you have to be 18 years,” Karimi said.

 Committee of VCs: we can’t react now

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNUs) declared that it couldn’t react now to the minister’s announcement. The Secretary-General of the committee, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, said the committee has not discussed this matter.

 “There is no official communication from the Ministry of Education yet. So, when we do, we shall review it and make an appropriate response,” he said.

Enforce the new age limit, says ASUU

The leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) , while supporting the new move, said the government should strictly enforce the age limit.

ASUU president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, blamed the private educational system for bastardising the system which was in place years back.

“Before the springing up of private schools, we used to follow six years in primary school setting and so, in secondary schools whereby before a student would get to university, he or she would have been 18 years old, just as it is being done in other civilised societies.

“But when private institutions came in, they threw that laid down procedure aside, thereby 12-year-old is seen in university settings. No matter how brilliant, what can a 12-year-old know in terms of discipline and maturity? They may graduate with excellent results but the needed discipline that is associated with maturity is lacking in most of them,’’ Osodeke said.

CONUA: minimum age should be pegged at 17 years

National President of Congress of University Academics (CONUA) Niyi Sunmonu is of the view that the minimum age for entry into the university, and by extension, any tertiary institution in Nigeria, should be pegged at 17 years on the date of registration in line with international best practices.

CONUA noted that before legislation for the adoption of the age limit is made, there is need to understand why parents rush their wards into tertiary institutions in their early teens.

“This is largely due to two major issues, which are: incessant strike actions and age limits set for employment,” he said.

Sunmonu, however, implored the Minister of Education and the legislature to take a holistic consideration of these two factors and others in arriving at a fair minimum age requirement.

“Exclusion by employers of labour on account of age must also be squarely addressed along with this.

“CONUA advocates for the minimum age requirement of 17 years on the date of registration because the country is just setting on the path of achieving uninterrupted academic calendar, which is one of the cardinal principles of CONUA.

“The government can then take a second look at it after some years when uninterrupted academic calendar is stabilised,” he said.

A welcomed development, says Tutor-General

The Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Education District IV, in Lagos, Mr. Osinaike Olusegun Olawale, is of the opinion that the initiative is a welcomed one, adding that it would help curb some menaces carried out by students in the higher institution.

Olawale noted that aspiring students below the age of 18 should endeavour to acquire a skill.

“I see it as a welcome development because there are too many incidences that could have been prevented, if the so-called immature undergraduates were mature.

“Take for instance, incidences of cultism, drug abuse, rape, indecent dressing and other vices in our society today. Most undergraduates are too naive to handle challenges. I support wholeheartedly the idea of 18-year minimum varsity entry requirement.

“Those that are already close to securing admission at under 18 should seek technical or vocational skills, which will enhance their market value before going to the university,” he said.

NASU: 18-year-old is the age of maturity

The General Secretary of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Comrade Peter Adeyemi said, “18 years is the age of maturity.”

Adeyemi in chat said: “To be a university student, you need some level of maturity and ability to understand life. I think 18 years is okay, if only they will adhere to it.”

Govt proposal, a welcome development, says NDU DVC

The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Prof. Tombra Kingdom, hailed the Federal Government for the proposal to raise the university entry age to 18 years.

He urged the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the proposal see the light of the day, saying that infantile attitude of some undergraduates shows that some of them behave like minors being spoon-fed by nannies.

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Kingdom said as part of the measures to actualise the lofty initiative, students below the age of 18 after their secondary schools should be made to learn some skills and develop before allowing them to go to the university.

Kingdom stated: “The Federal Government proposal is a welcome development because most of the students we have today are still like minors. Even this morning, there are some students who came for exams; they are still undergraduates, yet their parents are still following them to school. That is to tell you that they don’t know their left from their right.”

School proprietor supports policy

But, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Erudite Group of Schools, Ibadan, Chief Saheed Oladele, said the policy is in order as it is in tandem with standards in developed countries.

Noting that the policy have more advantages to the student, the school and the country, Oladele said government must show genuine political will and interest at implementing the policy and not do it selectively.

Oladele said: “I am in support of that because it has a lot of benefits. Number one, we need to make sure that the brains of these children fully develop before they go to the university. Many of the children that we are sending to the university are not mature, and that is why many of them are failing in the university.

“Secondly, our staying at home for about one year is any opportunity for them to learn a skill before they go to the university. What is the point of going to the university when what they are going to learn will be more of theory, and then the university doesn’t give them the opportunity to learn a skill. So, staying at home till 18, I believe it’s an opportunity for them to learn a skill.”

Parents are totally against it, says NAPTAN

Deputy National President, National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo said the minister should not have introduced the policy.

“Parents are totally against it. In fact, the youngest professor in the world is nine years of age. Some pupils do UTME at 14 or 15; we are even still managing that. Now, he is saying 18 years.

 It is not ideal at all; it will confuse the entire system. When a child passes UTME at age 15 or 16, it means such cannot enter the university. That would mean a two-year wait and waste. Why should the minister think of such without engaging relevant stakeholders in the sector? He should have engaged all stakeholders before the pronouncement. Some people do have double promotion, what becomes of them?

“Some are brilliant and talented. So, do we delay them unnecessarily? Waiting for extra two years could discourage a child. The minister should just leave it at 16; it is still manageable.

Children don’t learn at the same pace. Brilliant ones should not be delayed.

If he wants to go ahead with the policy without stakeholders’ engagement, we as a national parent body will be forced to approach the National Assembly and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their intervention.”

‘Plan has created confusion for parents, their wards’

Coordinator, Child Protection Network, Lagos State chapter, Mrs. Ronke Oyelaki, said the recent announcement has already created confusion and problems for parents and their wards.

She said: “As a parent and being realistic here, I will propose that the government should leave the admission at age 16 as obtained in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, the University of Lagos and other public universities in the country. This is because most parents will never understand and accept this proposal. Not at a time like this when we have millions of children or adults (above 18) yet to gain admission into higher institutions and the growing rate of students  writing WASSCE  and will be joining the waiting ones about to take UTME  in 2025.

“As a child protection expert, this will cause a huge effect in our societies and nation as many will be free to do whatever they like which may lead to increasing rates of social vices.”

‘Allow Senate of every institution to determine age limit’

In his view, a former Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, said the government must learn to allow the Senate of every institution determines the desirability of what is workable for its system.

Olayinka, a Prof. of over 25 years, said the universities with its huge concentration of scholars, academics and people of high repute must not be mere appendages of the Ministry of Education.

He wondered if any empirical research was carried out to justify the proposed increase in the minimum entry age of students into the universities.

“The Honourable Minister of Education is reported to have decreed that 18 years would henceforth be the minimum age for the admission of students into our universities. Without prejudice to the desirability or otherwise of this policy, what is the role of the Senate of each university in such matters? The last time I checked, the admission of suitably qualified candidates in a university is the responsibility of the Senate of each university. One is not aware if this part of the University of Ibadan Act 1962 (as amended) has been repealed.

“Why do we work so hard to relegate our universities into a mere appendage of the Ministry of Education. One is not sure whether there has been any empirical research carried out to justify the proposed increase in the minimum entry age into our universities. Each university should be allowed to operate what it has been operating before now, which has worked so well.

“It is probably not fair for the Federal Ministry of Education to ignore and neglect the laws governing our Universities so summarily.”

University Pro-Chancellor seeks transitional period of three to five years

Pro-Chancellor of Chrisland University and former Vice Chancellor of Caleb University, Ayodeji Olukoju, said: “Unless there is a transitional period of three to five years, the directive will confuse because many students are expected to graduate from secondary schools at 15 or 16 for the next four years at least.

“I graduated from secondary school at the age of 15, after beginning school at the age of five. If gifted children graduate at 16 or 17, as is common nowadays, what will they do for the next two years to qualify for university education? Unless two-year post-secondary high school education is reinstated, we will have a new army of young, brilliant, but frustrated children idling away, waiting until they are 18 before continuing their education.”

Olukoju stated that this innovation may cause more harm than good unless appropriate remedies are developed and gaps are filled.

 “Those who proposed the policy should explain why they did so and why it is more urgent. I am not sure what it would accomplish other than raising the age of freshmen, women, and all students on campus.

NLC Chairman advocates autonomy for varsities

Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress in Ebonyi State and former Chairman of Academic Staff Universities in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), Dr. Ogugua Egwu called for autonomy for the universities.

While he backed the plan for 18 years age limit for admission of students into the university, Egwu, however, called for reconstitution of universities’ councils.

He said: “I support the age limit of 18 years for admission into university. We are not saying that minors should not grow but you should have attained a certain age before you enter the university and that ripe age is 18. Age-wise, you should be more mature, you should be ready to face the challenges of life psychologically.”

Ex-vice-chancellor faults pronouncement

A former Vice-Chancellor of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, Prof. Dipo Kolawole, faulted the pronouncement of the Minister of Education, saying that the proposal is absurd as it is repulsive.

The retired don said: “With global advancement in medicine, science and technology, age is no more a major determinant of capacity to cope with higher education but depth of knowledge. It is sheer backwardness to measure maturity principally on the basis of age.

“In America, China and others, people now obtain PhD at relatively young age. They are immediately recruited and deposited in their research laboratories and institutes to enhance technological advancement of their countries in a competitive world of science and technology.”

Former VC cautions over blanket limit

A former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Rahman Bello, cautioned relevant authorities in the nation’s education sector not to place a blanket ban on admission of students below the age of 18.

Bello counselled the Federal Government to put in place a mechanism to ensure that students who show exceptional ability in learning are not deprived of opportunities to enter the ivory towers earlier than 18. Bello, who shied away from rejecting the proposal, stated that in implementing it, all organs of government saddled with the responsibility of admit ting students into the various schools are activated and properly primed for the task