Contradiction: Nigeria’s 16-year-olds are subject to age limits for exams, but not for marriage and elections

In a country where 16-year-old girls are considered marriageable but too young to take important academic exams, Nigeria’s policies and their implementation present a striking contradiction.

The Federal Government’s recent decision to introduce an age limit of 18 for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) has sparked a heated debate on education policy and youth rights.

Education policy under criticism

Education Minister Tahir Mamman recently announced the policy change, explaining that the new age limit is aimed at providing students with a structured education. “Our aim is to maintain educational standards and ensure that students are fully prepared before taking these important exams,” Mamman explained. However, the move has been met with severe criticism from various quarters.

Read also: Unbundling of mass communications in Nigeria is out of date JAMB Registrar

The policy, which also applies to the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by JAMB, is intended to bring Nigeria’s education system in line with international standards. Critics, however, argue that the policy disproportionately affects academically advanced students. Professor David Imhonopi of Covenant University described the decision as a “wrong priority” and stressed that the real problems in the Nigerian education system lie in infrastructure and teacher welfare.

Contradictions in marriage law

The controversy intensifies when compared to Nigeria’s marriage laws. In some regions, particularly in the north, girls can marry as early as 16. According to Girls Not Brides, 30.3 percent of girls in Nigeria are married before their 18th birthday. The highest rates are in the northwest and northeast, where over 50 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 24 were married as minors. Bauchi state reports the highest rate: 73.8 percent of women in this age group are married before their 18th birthday.

UNICEF’s latest report shows that Nigeria ranks third in the world in the incidence of child marriage, with 44 percent of girls married before the age of 18. Stressing the urgent need for a unified approach to ending child marriage, UNFPA’s Dr. Gifty Addico said: “Child marriage violates the fundamental rights and freedoms of young girls. We must act together to end this harmful practice.”

Minors voting and electoral fraud

Adding to the complexity is the issue of underage voting. A few years ago, Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba social-political organisation, criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allowing underage voters to vote in previous elections. It expressed disbelief that underage voters voted in the 2015 general election and accused INEC of lax enforcement of voting age laws.

Read also: How resilience and determination made a woman write WAEC at 50

Reports of underage voting, particularly in northern states, have raised doubts about the integrity of the elections. Although the constitution prohibits allowing minors to vote, cases of minors voting have been reported, fueling calls for stricter enforcement of electoral laws.

WASSCE results: successes and anomalies

In a recent press release, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) announced that 1.3 million candidates, or 72.12 percent of all WASSCE participants in April/June 2024, obtained credits in at least five subjects, including English and Mathematics.

Despite this encouraging pass rate, WAEC has not provided a breakdown by age of candidates, leaving questions about the age distribution of successful students unanswered.

Amos Dangut, head of the WAEC office in Nigeria, acknowledged that there were ongoing problems such as examination fraud and disruptions caused by the IPOB’s sit-at-home order and industrial action by the NLC. “The council will continue to punish all cases of examination fraud,” Dangut said, stressing the need for integrity in the examination process.

Impact on students and society

The Federal Government’s decision to exclude 16-year-olds from key examinations has sparked debate about the consequences. Critics argue that this could lead to waiting times for students, potentially leading to a loss of academic momentum. Lawyer Sabina Nkiru asked: “Will 15-17-year-old students in Grade 3 be forced to wait 2-3 years before they can sit their examinations?”

Some critics, such as FS Yusuf and Micflo, argue on social media that the policy is regressive and does not address more pressing issues such as child labor and underage voting.

Micflo, an X user (formerly Twitter), tweeted: “Frankly, we should not accept this vile policy of introducing an age limit for admission to WAEC/NECO examination. This is absolutely regressive and troglodytic. For heaven’s sake, we already have over 20 million children out of school and education is dying. The best a minister could come up with is an age limit?”

Sabina Nkiru added: “Can anyone answer me: will our 15, 16 and 17 year old students in SS3 sit for WAEC and JAMB exams or will they go home and stay for two to three years before they can go back to school and sit their exams?”

A lecturer at one of the country’s polytechnics questioned the government’s priorities and pointed to contradictions. For example, in the north, child marriages are permitted, but younger students are not allowed to take the WAEC test.

He wondered: “Did their children sit for the WASSCE exam at 18? In the North, young girls are allowed to marry at 12 but are not allowed to sit for the WAEC exam at 16? What are the government’s priorities?”

On the other hand, supporters of this policy argue that postponing exams leads to better emotional and physical maturity of children. Educationist Rowland Nwanze welcomed the policy and pointed out the benefits of holistic development of children.

“I welcome this idea,” Nwanze explained. “This policy will allow for better emotional and psychological development and ensure that students are mature enough before being subjected to academic pressure.”

Also read: WAEC releases 2024 WASSCE results, withholds 215,267

In an interview with Channels Television a few days ago, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, explained that although ASUU had not yet discussed the matter, he was of the opinion that children should follow the usual academic pathway: six years of primary school, six years of secondary school and then proceed to university at 18.

Osodeke questioned the rush to study at university, asking: “Why do we focus on university at such a young age? How many years do you spend at university?”

“They should let the system work as intended and give their children time to rest. Adulthood begins at 18, so why force a child at 15 to go to university or rent an apartment and expose themselves to cult members? We have to consider the welfare of these children.”

Global comparisons and local realities

Globally, the legal age of majority is usually 18, and most developed countries ensure that students complete high school by this age. In contrast, Nigeria’s approach to education and youth policy often seems inconsistent. Critics of this policy say that instead of imposing an age limit, the focus should be on improving educational infrastructure and addressing societal problems affecting young people.

Nigeria’s current education, marriage and electoral policies reflect a complex interplay of cultural norms, legal standards and practical realities. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the government will reconcile these contradictions and work towards policies that support the well-being and development of all young Nigerians.