Federal Government Bans Underage Pupils From Common Entrance Examination

The Federal government barred Underage pupils from sitting for the National Common Entrance Examination conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO) for admission into unity colleges across the country, Nigeria.

The National Examination Council has been directed by the Nigeria Federal Government to put strict measures in place to prevent underage students from registering for the examination, including making birth certificates compulsory as registration requirement. 

The federal government enables this regulation for a pupil to get into secondary school. According to the statement issued out, the federal government through the ministry of education board revealed that pupils should be at least 12 years.

The federal government stressed that one could be eleven plus during the examination, but must be 12 before September. 

David Adejo, Who is the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, gave the directive on Saturday, 3rd of June, 2023 in Abuja while monitoring the conduct of the 2023 Common Entrance Examination into the 116 Federal Government Colleges across the Federation. 

After monitoring the examination exercise at the Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, and Government Day Secondary School, Bwari, the Permanent Secretary said he was sad to see many underage persons taking the entrance examination. 

He said; 

“This year, I have advised for parents and I beg you, take this advice to any single home you know. We are killing our children by allowing underage children to write the Common Entrance Examination. 

“I saw children that I know that are not up to 10, and three of them accepted that they are nine years old. We are doing many things; one, we are teaching the children the wrong values. Education is not about passing exams. Education is teaching, learning and character formation.

“I beg the parents, let these children do the exams when they should. We don’t get value by pushing your child too far. Most of the times if a child starts too early, he or she will have problems later in life. 

“You put a small child to go through all the rigours, by the time he finishes secondary, getting to University becomes a problem. I had that experience with a friend. Till date that friend did not get into a University, simply because he was put into school earlier than age that he was supposed to be put into school.” He said.