PUNCH
THE Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, on Monday, said the Federal Government is considering the adoption of 18 years as the entry age for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions of learning.
The minister also accused underage students of being responsible for some of the problems being encountered in higher institutions.
The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, described the proposition by the Federal Government as a welcome development.
“We are in full support. It is the right thing. What the minister said is the correct thing,” ASUU President told our correspondent in an interview.
He added, “The issue of age benchmark is not a new thing. It’s just that regulators have not been doing their work.
“In those days, you could not go to primary school if you were not six years old. Then you spend six years and finish at age 12; and then by the time you get to secondary school you spend six years and then you graduate by 18,” Oshodeke explained.
The standard admission age currently set by most tertiary institutions in the country is 16 years unless a candidate is certified as gifted.
