Education Minister Yusuf Sununu on Friday dismissed claims of an age limit for candidates taking the country’s high school certificate exam.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, had told a stakeholders meeting in Abuja last week that students below the age of 18 would no longer be allowed to sit for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations for secondary school leavers.
The statement sparked angry reactions in the country and many questioned the rationale behind the decision.
READ ALSO: Nigerian government bans minors from registering for NECO, WAEC exams
Sununu, who spoke to reporters at a press conference in Abuja, said Nigerians had misinterpreted what Mamman said at the meeting.
He said the minister only spoke about the implementation of the university entrance age limit of 18 years which will start in 2025.
“Neither of us stated anything about the age to sit for WAEC and NECO exams. It was not mentioned.
“But people just implied that that was the intention. All we mentioned was about the age of entry or application to university,” he said.
Education Minister clarifies no age limit for candidates sitting for WAEC, NECO exams first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.