JAMB sets 320 UTME benchmark for under 16 candidates

• The JAMB has announced that candidates under 16 can be considered for tertiary admission if they demonstrate exceptional academic ability.

• Candidates must achieve a minimum score of 320 marks out of 400 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

• Former Minister Tahir Mamman’s mandatory 18-year admission age requirement has been reinstated by current Minister Olatunji Alausa, a move welcomed by education stakeholders.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has declared that candidates who are under the age of 16 may be eligible for admission into higher education institutions, provided they exhibit outstanding academic performance.

Reports indicate that these candidates are required to achieve a minimum score of 80% in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which corresponds to at least 320 marks out of a possible 400.

This announcement comes in the wake of the recent repeal of the compulsory 18-year age limit for admission, a policy previously established by former Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman. The current Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, has restored the prior age threshold of 16 years, a decision that has been positively received by stakeholders in the education sector.

During a meeting with significant stakeholders, including Chief External Examiners, Chief Technical Advisors, and members of the Equal Opportunity Group, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede emphasized that while the standard minimum age remains 16, exceptional candidates who are younger may be admitted under stringent conditions.

Special Consideration for Exceptional Candidates

A transcript from the meeting published in JAMB’s bulletin cited Oloyede as stating:

“Age plays a crucial role in maturity and academic development. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be age limits for leadership positions such as local government chairman. Biological age is linked to intellectual growth, and while rules exist, there must be room for exceptions.”

He emphasized that although the minimum age for admission is set at 16, exceptionally talented students should not be disregarded. These students must exhibit remarkable academic performance across various evaluations, including UTME, WASSCE, Post-UTME, and GCE O/Level.

“If a candidate under 16 scores 200 out of 400 in UTME, can they truly be considered exceptional? However, if they achieve 80% (320/400), that signals outstanding ability and warrants consideration,” Oloyede added.

Concerns Regarding Private Universities and Age Alteration

Oloyede expressed his apprehensions regarding the admission of underage students in private universities, highlighting that a significant number of these students face academic challenges, with as many as 80% ultimately transferring to different programs due to inadequate performance.

He also criticized the actions of parents who falsify birth certificates to facilitate early admissions for their children, only to later attempt to modify their ages to comply with the eligibility requirements for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program.

In response to these issues, JAMB has implemented a mock UTME specifically for underage candidates.

During a recent address in Lagos, Oloyede clarified that the purpose of the mock examination is not for admission but to assist younger candidates in evaluating their academic readiness prior to taking the UTME.

“We are starting the sale of forms on the 31st of January till 5th of March. There will be a mock exam on the 23rd of February and on the 8th of March there will be UTME,”  the JAMB Registrar said.