Professor Tahir Mamman, Nigeria's Minister of Education, recently announced a policy setting the minimum age for writing the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) at 18 years, starting from 2025. This decision has sparked widespread criticism from education stakeholders, who view it as a regressive step that fails to consider the realities of modern education. The new age limit rather than enhancing educational outcomes, risks stifling student progress and diminishing the quality of education in Nigeria.
Setting the minimum age for SSCE at 18 years is out of step with the global trend toward encouraging early academic achievement. Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 educational system, which anticipates students finishing secondary school by age 18, does not account for the diverse academic paths students might take. Many students, particularly those who are gifted or started school early, complete secondary education well before turning 18. Imposing an age limit would unfairly penalize these students, forcing them to wait unnecessarily, which is both a waste of time and an impediment to their academic and professional growth.
