In a shocking development, the federal government has taken decisive action in response to the high number of underage children who participated in the 2023 National Common Entrance Examination held nationwide on Saturday.
Children below the age of 12 will now be prohibited from taking part in the examination, according to the government’s new directive.
Furthermore, the government has made it mandatory for candidates to provide their birth certificates during the registration process for the National Common Entrance Examination.
The aim is to ensure strict compliance with the age requirement and prevent underage individuals from registering.
The government has instructed the National Examination Council (NECO), the organization responsible for conducting the examination, to implement robust measures to enforce this directive.
Mr. David Andrew Adejo, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, issued the directive while personally monitoring the 2023 Common Entrance Examination across federal government colleges nationwide.
The examination saw a total of 72,821 candidates participating.
Adejo emphasized that candidates should be at least 12 years old to enter secondary school.
He pointed out that a candidate could be eleven years old during the examination but would have reached the age of 12 by September.
He expressed his unhappiness at witnessing numerous underage candidates taking the examination.
Adejo also highlighted that certain schools, such as Airforce Schools, do not admit candidates below the age of 12.
Addressing parents, Adejo urged them to adhere to the appropriate age requirement for their children when registering for the exam.
He emphasized that pushing children to take exams prematurely has detrimental effects on their development and future prospects.
Adejo stressed that education should focus not only on passing exams but also on teaching, learning, and character formation.
The Permanent Secretary further explained that education is a progressive process, with each stage designed to impart specific knowledge and skills that individuals can effectively utilize for the betterment of society.
Placing young children under excessive academic pressure can lead to difficulties later in life, as exemplified by a personal experience he shared about a friend who faced challenges gaining admission to a university due to early enrollment.
To prevent underage candidates from participating in the examination, Adejo announced that the government would now require the submission of birth certificates during the registration process.
This additional measure will help verify the age of candidates and eliminate fraudulent practices.
Adejo commended the progress made in encouraging girls’ education, highlighting that this year’s Common Entrance Examination witnessed a significant increase in the number of registered girls, with a total of 38,000 girls participating—a substantial improvement compared to previous years.
Professor Dantani Wushishi, the Registrar of NECO, confirmed the smooth and orderly conduct of the examination nationwide.
With a total of 72,821 candidates registered, Lagos State recorded the highest enrollment, followed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Conversely, Kebbi State had the lowest number of registered candidates, with approximately 115 participants.
In response to the surge in last-minute registrations, Wushishi assured that NECO would implement measures to address any discrepancies that may have arisen due to the sudden influx of registrations prior to the examination.
