The Federal Government of Nigeria has prohibited children under the age of 11 from participating in the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission into federal unity colleges throughout the country. The government has directed the National Examinations Council (NECO) to implement stringent measures to prevent underage children from registering for the examination, including making a birth certificate a mandatory requirement for registration.
David Adejo, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, issued the directive while monitoring the 2023 NCEE, which took place in 110 federal government colleges across the nation. He expressed concern about underage children participating in the examination, stating that it is detrimental to their well-being. Adejo observed children as young as nine years old taking the test and emphasized that education is not solely about passing exams but also encompasses teaching, learning, and character development.
Adejo called on parents to allow their children to take the examination at the appropriate age, emphasizing that pushing children to start too early can lead to difficulties later in life. The government intends to ensure that NECO establishes appropriate measures to prevent the registration of underage children, including requesting the upload of the child's birth certificate during registration.
According to Adejo, children should be at least 12 years old to enter secondary school, and those younger than 11 years old are not acceptable candidates for the examination. The decision to require a birth certificate during registration is a response to the growing issue of underage children participating in the NCEE.