WASSCE, NECO not for students under 18 – PTA

The Parents Teachers’ Association (PTA) has expressed its support for the Federal Government’s decision to ban candidates who are under 18 years from sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO).

Speaking to Punch, national president, PTA, said, “I expressed my support for the education policy.

“The minister is not introducing a new policy; it has always been part of the education system.

“When students sit for WASSCE or NECO at 18 years old, they have reached an age of maturity.

“Such exams are not for immature students or under 18. You shouldn’t expect underage students in universities or sitting WASSCE and NECO. That’s the standard we followed; even my children did not enter university before turning 18.

“If they are old enough, they will be fully prepared and mature enough to face the challenges that come with attending a higher institution. This is the correct approach; students should take their exams at 18.”

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ programme that the Federal Government had instituted a new age policy for secondary school leaving examinations, setting the minimum age at 18.

This means underage candidates will no longer be allowed to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the Senior School Certificate Examination, both crucial for advancing to tertiary education.