The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced a groundbreaking initiative allowing exceptionally brilliant candidates below the age of 16 to sit for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This decision was revealed by JAMB registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, during a Sunday news program on Channels TV, Inside Sources.
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A New Opportunity for Exceptional Young Minds
Professor Oloyede emphasized that while the 16-year minimum age requirement for tertiary education remains in place, an exception has been made for candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic brilliance.
“We are enforcing the 16-year minimum entry into tertiary institutions, but some people argue that there are exceptional students. Yes, there are, but they are just one in a million,” Oloyede stated. “If you know you are exceptional, register for exceptional candidacy – that is, you are less than 16 years old and exceptional.”
This new “exceptionally brilliant window” aims to recognize and support outstanding young students, enabling them to advance academically without unnecessary barriers.
Concerns Over Age Falsification and Abuse of the System
Despite the noble intent of the policy, Oloyede voiced concerns over parents attempting to exploit the opportunity by falsifying records to push their children into early tertiary education. He disclosed that in just a few days of registration, over 2,000 underage candidates, some as young as 10, 11, and 12 years old, had already applied.
“I’m surprised, just from Monday to now, over 2,000 have registered in the whole country. Some of them are 10, 11, and 12-year-olds whose parents have found crooked ways of jumping classes.”
This raises critical questions about whether the new provision will remain exclusive to truly exceptional candidates or if it will be misused by parents eager to fast-track their children’s education.
The Ministry of Education’s Stance
The policy aligns with the federal government’s vision to maintain 16 years as the minimum entry age into tertiary institutions, except for those who can prove exceptional intellectual ability. Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to this standard while acknowledging the need for flexibility for highly gifted students.
What This Means for Nigerian Students and Parents
The introduction of JAMB’s special entry window presents both opportunities and challenges:
- Opportunities: It offers truly gifted students the chance to progress at their own pace and gain access to higher education earlier.
- Challenges: The potential for abuse by parents who may push their children into academic environments they are not developmentally ready for.
As this policy unfolds, stakeholders in the education sector will need to implement strict verification measures to ensure that only genuinely exceptional candidates benefit from this initiative.
Balancing Excellence with Integrity
JAMB’s new special entry pathway for under-16 candidates is a significant step towards recognizing and nurturing exceptional young talents in Nigeria. However, the success of this initiative depends on maintaining a fair and transparent system that prevents abuse while rewarding true excellence. Parents, educators, and policymakers must work together to ensure this opportunity serves its intended purpose without compromising the integrity of the education system.
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Key Takeaways:
- JAMB has introduced a special UTME entry for exceptionally brilliant candidates below 16 years.
- The 16-year minimum entry age remains but can be waived for proven exceptional students.
- Over 2,000 underage candidates have already applied, raising concerns over record falsification.
- The Ministry of Education supports maintaining the 16-year age limit with rare exceptions.
- The initiative presents opportunities for gifted students but requires strict oversight to prevent misuse.